Muñoz Applauds U.S. Supreme Court Decision on Kensington Mine

(Juneau) - Rep. Cathy Muñoz, R-Juneau, today applauded the news of Kensington mine's victory in the United States Supreme Court. The Court voted 6-3 in favor of Coeur Alaska Inc., affirming a previously-issued permit for the tailings facility at Kensington Mine. This decision clears the way for the remaining construction and production to commence at the mine.

This is very exciting news for Juneau and Southeast Alaska with the prospect of an estimated 370 direct and indirect jobs coming into our community.
~ Rep. Cathy Munoz

"This is very exciting news for Juneau and Southeast Alaska with the prospect of an estimated 370 direct and indirect jobs coming into our community," Muñoz said. "The mine will stimulate the economy and lead to growth throughout Southeast Alaska.

"The emotional rollercoaster of waiting out the decision has been stressful on our community. Fortunately, people can get back to work, and a generation or more of employment opportunities await Juneauites eager to find professional employment in mining."

By June 2005, Kensington was fully-permitted with more than 50 permits issued to operating subsidiary Coeur Alaska Inc. by the U.S. Forest Service, Army Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency, National Marine Fisheries, Alaska departments of Environmental Conservation and Natural Resources as well as the City and Borough of Juneau.

It took six years to obtain permits for the Lower Slate Lake tailings disposal option with the help of highly qualified engineers, biologists and water quality specialists.

The project was 50 percent constructed when the environmental groups filed their legal challenge, which was later thrown out by the Alaska District Court. Coeur continued to build and when the project was 80 percent complete, the 9th Circuit Appeals Court made its unfavorable ruling.

"The decision by the U.S. Supreme Court is the second major victory for Alaskan mining," Muñoz said. "Last fall, Ballot Measure 4 sought to add additional regulatory oversight on large mineral mines in Alaska which would have had serious adverse economic effects on the industry."

In August 2008, the initiative was voted down in the statewide primary election.

Dennis Wheeler, Chairman, President and CEO of Coeur, was quoted in a press release today stating Kensington has targeted production to begin in the later part of 2010.