News in Brief
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S.J.Res.26, Opposing EPA Regulation of Greenhouse Gases - Senator Murkowski’s bipartisan “resolution of disapproval” that would prevent the EPA from using the Clean Air Act to impose backdoor climate regulations based on its “endangerment finding”. The finding set the stage for a huge expansion of EPA regulation and permitting processes. This Resolution and Senator Murkowski remain under attack for taking this important step.
Global Warming - the fraud now has at least four major aspects so get your scorecard and take notes:
Climate-Gate - scientific malpractice where the GRU in the UK adjusted data; hid data; refused legally required requests for copies of the data; “lost” the original data; plotted how to hide their actions.
Glacier-Gate - where the IPCC used a World Wildlife Fund report that the Himalayan glaciers were going to disappear; was forced to apologize to the Indian Government after call calling its 60 page report on glaciers “voodoo science”; at least 16 major errors in the IPCC 4th report showing the shallowness of QC.
Amazon-Gate - IPCC publishes so-called scientific claims about the Amazon forest referencing a document written by activists (from World Conservation Union and Greenpeace) and, in addition to not being a legitimate source, the referenced document doesn’t support the claims being made.
Money-Gate - where the man in charge of the IPCC was chairman of boards of companies that profited handsomely as the scare and hysteria factors increased.
Global Warming in Pew Survey - Dealing with global warming ranks at the bottom of the public’s list of priorities; just 28% consider this a top priority, the lowest measure for any issue tested in the survey. Since 2007, when the item was first included on the priorities list, dealing with global warming has consistently ranked at or near the bottom. Even so, the percentage that now says addressing global warming should be a top priority has fallen 10 points from 2007, when 38% considered it a top priority. Such a low ranking is driven in part by indifference among Republicans: just 11% consider global warming a top priority, compared with 43% of Democrats and 25% of independents.
NOAA Climate Service - The Obama Administration is creating a new agency to report on the changing climate. The new agency to be called the Climate Service will be created within NOAA and operate in tandem with their existing National Weather Service and National Ocean Survey agencies. Apparently the job of the new agency is to report on warming.
More Wilderness for Alaska? - The National Park Service has published in the Federal Register that they intend toan EIS for a Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve Backcountry Plan and GMP Amendment, including a wilderness study with possible recommendations for designated wilderness. As a scoping process, NPS is accepting comments with no specific deadline given. Comment to: Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, 4175 Geist Road, Fairbanks, AK 99709 or to http://parkplanning.nps.gov/gaar.
Historic Preservation Regulations - The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) located within DNR is proposing changes to its regulations. AMA and others will be commenting on the proposed regulations. Problems we have identified thus far include: subjective criteria; lack of secure timeframes for response; lack of clear definition of what is or is not covered; other definitions much too broad; cost of surveys on applicant; major restrictions on who can do the surveys; would create ACMP nightmare; contradicts other regulations. If you need more details on these issues contact the AMA office. Also, if you have personal experience with the current SHPO process please pass these to the AMA office. Comments deadline NLT 5pm, Mon, March 30, 2010. Send comments to: Office of History and Archaeology, Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation, 550 West 7th Avenue, Suite 1310, Anchorage, AK. dnr.oharegs@ alaska.gov or FAX 907-269-8908.
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NO2 Standard, Targets SO2, Ozone, PM Standards - EPA recently tightened the U.S. air quality requirements for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) by setting a one-hour standard at a level of 100 parts per billion (ppb); retaining the existing 53ppb annual average standard. The existing annual standard has been proposed for revision several times on health-based criteria but has not been changed in 35 years. NMA points out that the evidence did not support a short-term standard for NO2 exposures in the range described by EPA. The American Petroleum Institute dismissed the new standard as “political” and without scientific justification. EPA is expected to issue soon revised standards for other “criteria” pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, ground-level ozone and particulate matter
2011 National Budget - includes several items that will hurt mining. These include: eliminate expensing of exploration and development costs (on coal companies only?); repeal of percentage depletion (not clear but appears to focus on hardrock); repeal of capital gains treatment for royalties. The total is estimated to amount to $2.3 billion over 10 years.
Dennis J. McLerran - has been named as EPA Region 10 Administrator. McLerran has over 20 years experience as an advocate, attorney, and administrator. Most recently, he served as executive director of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, a state chartered regional agency that adopts and enforces air quality standards. Prior to that, he served as city attorney for the city of Port Townsend and director of the Seattle Department of Construction and Land Use. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Washington and a law degree from the Seattle University School of Law.
Roadless Rule and Diesel Timber Sale: Village of Kake, Sierra Club, et.al. v Dept of Agriculture (USFS) - The State of Alaska and the Alaska Forest Association have just been granted intervener status in two cases: 1) to uphold Alaska’s exemption in the Tongass National Forest from the Forest Service’s “roadless rule,” and 2) to support the Forest Service’s authority to proceed with the overall Logjam timber sale and the pending Diesel timber sale. Separately, AMA and NWMA have filed as amicus in support of the State of Wyoming and Colorado Mining Association. In announcing that the State would file, Governor Parnell said. “We’ll use every tool at our disposal to make sure that the exemption from the roadless rule remains in place and that the Diesel sale can proceed.” From AG Sullivan, “The Tongass exemption came as the result of a settlement agreement with the state, after the state had filed a complaint that the roadless rule violates federal statutes pertaining to Alaska, including the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act.”
Wind Energy Jobs? - Despite the Obama administration's efforts to create jobs making wind turbines in America, some companies say that sluggish demand for wind energy is holding them back. The U.S. installed more wind power last year, 9,900 megawatts, or enough to power 2.4 million homes — than in any other year. The growth in wind farm installations in the U.S. was a product of federal stimulus spending. Nonetheless, wind equipment manufacturers cut as many as 2,000 jobs last year. About half the wind turbines installed in the U.S. were made overseas. A check with some of the companies that want to get into the wind manufacturing business found that even some that qualified for clean-energy manufacturing tax credits aren't able to create jobs quickly because they don't see enough demand for wind energy. Herald Leader, 2/4/10.
AME-BC Cordilleran Roundup 2010 - in Vancouver the mood was very positive and up-beat regarding Alaska. It was the same size as last year with about 5,600 registered. Alaska Night again received high marks for having a lower noise level and providing a good opportunity to talk with others having an interest in Alaska. Thanks to all those who contributed to Alaska Night.
Diamonds - Rockwell Diamonds has recovered five diamonds of 50-plus carats in size from the Saxendrift and Holpan mines in South Africa. They describe the stones are as follows: From Holpan a 52.40-carat clean, light fancy yellow; From Saxendrift - a 60.52-carat light yellow, octahedral; 74.99-carat clean, white, irregular blocky stone; 54.23-carat, light yellow broken macle stone with inclusions; 60.51-carat, light yellow, rounded flat stone with oxide coating and minor inclusions. The four from Saxendrift were mined from basal gravel and Rooikoppie deposits, whereas the Holpan stone was likely mined from paleochannel deposits. DIB Online, 1/14/10.
Dr. Ricardo Presnell - a long-time Alaska geologist and former employee with Kennecott and most recently Chief Geologist for Full Metal Minerals and Underworld Resources was killed January 27, 2010 in an avalanche while skiing near Salt Lake City. For avalanche details http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_14279 803?source=email http://utahavalanche center.org/accident_meadows_1272010
Jim Sumter - we recently learned that geologist Jim Sumter died June 19, 2009 while at work in Western Alaska.
Lucky Shot - Full Metal has announced results from late 2009 drilling that includes: C09-152 3.6m @ 24.14 g/t Au; C09-153 with 0.9m @ 102.00 g/t Au, including 0.9m @ 102.00 g/t Au.; C09-158 with 0.6m @ 58.20 g/t Au; C09-169 with 3.7m @ 19.23 g/t Au; C09-171 with 7.3m @ 36.38 g/t Au, including 1.9m @ 125.48 g/t Au.
AMA Spring 2010 Interior Mining Conference - at Westmark Hotel in Fairbanks, March 9-13, 2010. Conference includes technical sessions, short courses on Industrial Minerals & Aggregates or Placer Mining Methods & Best Practices and tours to Pogo Mine (including an underground) or ITHM’s Livengood gold project combined with Fort Knox Mine (including new heap leach). To register go to www.alaska miners.org under Conventions. AMA Board Meeting - will be held during the Interior Mining Conference 7pm, Wed, Mar 10 at the Westmark Hotel.