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Red Dog Mine Life Extension : Still Searching for Answers |
2031 continues to loom on the horizon , and with it – the threat of the loss of hundreds of well-paying jobs for NANA shareholders and their family members , tens of millions of dollars in revenue to support the Northwest Arctic ’ s economy and even the driver of the largest 7 ( i ) revenue-sharing payout to other Alaska Native corporations across the state . That is when the Aqqaluk Deposit at Red Dog Mine is expected to run out of economically recoverable zinc and lead . If another source of ore is not brought online , this will force the shutdown of an operation that ’ s been working around the clock for more than 35 consecutive years . To avoid the mine crossing into temporary closure or the highly expensive , irreversible threshold of permanent closure , NANA continues to work with our industry partner , Teck , on evaluating the nearby Aktigiruq and Anarraaq deposits . Those deposits could hold the key to extending the life of Red Dog for decades into the future . Those sites may be on state lands ,
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but the ore would be processed through the existing Red Dog facility .
Timing is everything . Teck continues to anxiously await approval from the U . S . Army Corps of Engineers ( USACE ) to
build a roughly 10-mile exploration access road which would allow for continued exploration , including underground workings – saving money , reducing reliance on helicopters and conserving precious time . This access is essential in enabling Teck to fully understand critical aspects of the deposits themselves , such as the size , extent and ore grades .
So far , Teck has only been able to perform a limited surface drilling program at the site , using equipment shuttled in by helicopter . However , issuing the 404 permit , sometimes referred to as a wetland permit , would allow construction of the exploration access road . Unfortunately ,
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the federal permitting process has already been delayed six times since the review process was restarted in March 2022 . The next decision to approve or further delay the process by the USACE is expected by the end of September .
NANA shareholders Devin Thompson and Bobby Snyder work in the mill at Red Dog Mine .
Another delay this summer would mean Teck loses the entire 2024 / 2025 winter construction season to build the exploration road – pushing the possible benefits of the Aktigiruq and Anarraaq Project even further into the future and jeopardizing any chance of the project being able to bridge the gap in operations beyond 2031 , when mining the existing Aqqaluk deposit come to an end .
With the scheduled closure of Red Dog Mine inching closer , the work throughout the next two years will be critical when it comes to possibly extending the mine ’ s life . As it stands , the Aktigiruq Project is entering its prefeasibility study phase
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( see graphic below ) – a step closer to providing answers but still in the toddler stage when it comes to approaching full feasibility , permitting and design and eventually construction . As fewer than 2 % of large mine projects reach this phase , it is encouraging – but the journey from here , at its best , will continue to be expensive and slow . Just the preparation and full National Environmental Policy Act ( NEPA ) review along with required permitting and could take another five years after the current 404 permit for exploration and early project design is finally approved .
For now , work for NANA and Teck continues on two fronts – coordination on a closure plan for Red Dog Mine that will eventually need to be completed for a 2026 regulatory requirement and preparation for the possible construction of an access road that could provide answers as to if and how the life of the mine could be extended with the development of the Aktigiruq and Anarraaq deposits . For the latter , the ball is in the USACE ’ s court with the clock ticking .
NANA Communications will be sure to keep you up to date as this story develops . Look for continued stories on Red Dog Mine as well as the Aktigiruq and Anarraaq Project in future editions of The Hunter and other channels .
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Janelle Anausuk Sharp : From Traditional Knowledge to Cutting Edge ScienceJanelle Anausuk Sharp is a NANA shareholder who has combined her passion for our culture with her career in science and environmental research . She is the daughter of Suzanne Mendenhall from Kotzebue and Timothy Sharp from Jefferson City , Missouri . Her Aana ( grandmother ), the late Ida ( Mendenhall ) Curtis , was born and raised in and around Deering . Her Iñupiaq name is after her Amau ( great-grandmother ), Ruth Mendenhall . Janelle holds a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from the University of Alaska Anchorage ( UAA ) and a Master of Science
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in geophysics from the University of Alaska Fairbanks . Her professional career began as an environmental technician for NANA subsidiaries and the NANA Natural Resources department , before transitioning to a role as regional director for the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program at UAA . She currently serves as an environmental professional for Jacob ' s Engineering Group .
Janelle ' s work in environmental research has taken her to many significant sites across the Arctic , including Esieh Lake . Nestled north of the Igichuk Hills , about half a mile from the Noatak River , Esieh Lake stands out as a significant focus of Arctic research . Known for its large methane seeps , this lake is at the center of studies examining changes in Arctic conditions and evolving permafrost environments .
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The story of Esieh Lake began in 2017 with a community outreach program . Janelle traveled to the NANA region as part of a NANA program to investigate the natural gas potential and to identify natural oil or gas leaks using traditional knowledge . This initiative aimed to find potential energy sources for nearby communities . The journey led to a collaboration with UAF professor and methane researcher Katey Walter Anthony , who used satellite imagery to pinpoint methane seeps from lakes in the area .
Local pilot Eric Sieh , who frequently flies over the region , directed the team to the massive seeps at Esieh Lake . Upon investigation , they discovered the lake was emitting enormous amounts of flammable gas from coal-bed sources trapped beneath
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the permafrost . This finding marked Esieh Lake as a significant site for methane emission .
Due to low water levels in the slough that year , Janelle and Katey had to haul their gear manually to the lake . Despite the arduous journey , the sight of the seeps was awe-inspiring . Katey , who has studied methane emissions across the Arctic , was astounded by the volume of gas at Esieh Lake . They designated the first and second seeps as " Wow 1 " and " Wow 2 " due to their unprecedented size and constant gas emissions .
Using a methane trap designed by Katey , they collected and tested gas samples , confirming its flammability and potential as an energy source . Isotope testing revealed the methane originated from microbial decomposition of coal beds , highlighting the complex interactions between the environment and geological features .
Esieh Lake ' s significance extends beyond its scientific value . Methane , a potent greenhouse gas , plays a crucial role in climate change . The lake ' s emissions underscore the potential for more environmental anomalies as the Arctic continues to warm . This phenomenon mirrors the giant exploding craters in Russia ' s Yamal Peninsula , suggesting similar events could occur in Alaska and North America .
Multiple scientific teams have studied Esieh Lake to understand its methane release characteristics . Sub-surface geophysics suggested a fault running through the area , facilitating the methane ' s
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escape . Despite extensive research , pinpointing the exact source of methane remains a challenge , necessitating further investigation .
Satellite imagery confirms that Esieh Lake is the only lake in the Noatak Basin emitting such high levels of methane yearround , making it the largest methane seep in the Arctic . Initial hopes of developing this methane as a local energy source were tempered by an economic analysis , which showed that the costs of development would outweigh the benefits .
However , Esieh Lake ' s international attention has brought focus to the infrastructure needs of rural communities in the Arctic . The NOVA episode " Arctic Sinkholes " and coverage in the Washington Post have highlighted these challenges , showcasing the harsh environment and the resilience of its people .
As the Arctic changes , Esieh Lake serves as a reminder of the importance of sustainable adaptations . By promoting citizen science initiatives , local leaders and hunters can help collect valuable data for global research . Embracing sustainable practices like solar and wind energy , along with innovative methane capture systems , can ensure the resilience and selfsufficiency of Arctic communities .
Esieh Lake , while an anomaly today , may foreshadow future changes in the Arctic . By working together and leveraging traditional knowledge and modern science , Arctic communities can remain resilient and continue to thrive in an ever-changing environment .
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