Court Hears Lawsuit Challenging Donlin Gold Mine’s Key Permit

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The Anchorage Supreme Court witnessed oral arguments over claims in the lawsuit filed against the water quality certificate issued to Donlin Gold Mine by the Alaska state authorities.

The Bethel’s tribal government, Orutsararmiut Native Council (ONC), represented by the environmental law firm Earthjustice had previously filed lawsuits in both federal and state courts seeking reversal of the permit granted to the mine. The state case was assigned to Superior Court Judge Catherine Easter, who later remanded the issue back to Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) for further work. The oral arguments are in connection with the ongoing lawsuit.

The tribal government argued that the developers were improperly granted permit by the commissioner of the DEC. According to attorney Tom Waldo, who represented ONC in court, Donlin Gold has no clear plan to operate the mine in compliance with water quality standards, so as to ensure protection of salmon.

On the contrary, the attorneys for the DEC and the mine owners argued that all standards have been met and that the water temperatures will be maintained well below the regulatory limit.

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