00 CS FOR SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 20(RES) 01 Supporting the responsible development of mining in Juneau. 02 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 03 WHEREAS the Alaska-Juneau Mine (A-J Mine) was one of the world's largest gold 04 mines until it was closed during World War II; and 05 WHEREAS Echo Bay Alaska, Inc., is in the process of evaluating the feasibility of 06 reopening the A-J Mine and is seeking the necessary state and federal permits; and 07 WHEREAS the City and Borough of Juneau, after a lengthy public hearing process, 08 granted a large mine permit to Echo Bay Alaska, Inc., in April 1993 to enable the reopening 09 of the A-J Mine; and 10 WHEREAS, since issuance of the large mine permit, the City and Borough of Juneau 11 has assisted Echo Bay, Alaska, Inc., in meeting permit requirements and regulatory 12 requirements of other agencies; and 13 WHEREAS the A-J Mine presents an opportunity for private economic development 14 in the State of Alaska; and 01 WHEREAS private economic development will diversify the Juneau economy and 02 provide economic benefits to the state in increased private sector employment and in increased 03 purchases of goods and services in the City and Borough of Juneau and throughout 04 Southeastern Alaska; and 05 WHEREAS the Alaska State Legislature recognizes the efforts of Echo Bay Alaska, 06 Inc., to reestablish this historic mining development; and 07 WHEREAS the public is best served when the governmental process is open and fair 08 to all interests and concerns and the public is informed of all aspects of the project; 09 BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature encourages state and federal 10 regulatory agencies to continue their timely and public review of the environmental effects of 11 the A-J Mine with appropriate diligence; and be it 12 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature supports responsible 13 development of the A-J Mine in a manner that maintains Juneau's air and water quality 14 standards and ensures the continued health and safety of the citizens of Juneau. 15 COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to Echo Bay Alaska, Inc., the City and 16 Borough of Juneau, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Alaska 17 Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Alaska Department of Natural Resources.