Statement from Salmon Beyond Borders in Response to Today’s Signing of an MOU with British Columbia by Governor Walker

November 25, 2015

Contact: 
Heather Hardcastle, 907.209.8486 – Director, Salmon Beyond Borders
Frederick Otilius Olsen Jr. 907.617.9941 -Vice President, Organized Village of Kasaan, and Chair, United Tribal Transboundary Mining Work Group
Dale Kelley 907.723.8765, Executive Director, Alaska Trollers Association
​Chris Zimmer 907.586.2166, Alaska Campaign Director, Rivers Without Borders

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Statement from Salmon Beyond Borders in Response to Today’s Signing of an MOU with British Columbia by Governor Walker 

JUNEAU, AK – Today, Salmon Beyond Borders expressed disappointment and dismay at Governor Walker’s announcement that he has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with B.C. Premier Christy Clark mere days after his administration asked members of his newly-formed Transboundary Rivers Citizens Advisory Work Group to provide comment on a Draft Statement of Cooperation associated with Transboundary mining.

“It’s hard not to be feel blindsided by this news,” says Salmon Beyond Borders Director, Heather Hardcastle. “Tribes, municipal leaders, fishing groups and Alaskans across the political spectrum are right now working to respond and provide feedback to the State of Alaska on this very topic and we were given no warning by the administration that an MOU would be signed in advance." 

“What is the point in having a comment period if the administration takes action before we’ve had the opportunity to comment? Outrageous!” said Frederick Olsen Jr., of the Organized Village of Kasaan and United Tribal Transboundary Mining Work Group. “Governor Walker’s action today underscores our need for U.S. government involvement; we need them to live up to their  responsibility to Alaska Tribes which the State of Alaska refuses to recognize."  

“Unfortunately this action by the State makes it clearer than ever that Alaskan’s concerns about impacts from an upstream mining district in B.C. must be addressed by our Federal governments. The Boundary Waters Treaty and International Joint Commission possess the necessary authorities to protect the waters, fisheries and communities of Southeast Alaska,” said Chris Zimmer of Rivers Without Borders. “We are very disappointed that the Governor is apparently ignoring the near consensus here in Southeast Alaska in support of federal involvement and an IJC.” 

“Regardless of any agreement they strike with the province of British Columbia, it remains our hope that the state will also work to secure legally binding agreements between the U.S. and Canada for the protection of our rivers. Neither the state or the residents of this region can bear the risk and expense of a catastrophic mining accident," said Dale Kelley, Executive Director of the Alaska Trollers Association.
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Salmon Beyond Borders is a growing community of sport and commercial fishermen, community leaders, Tribal and First Nations members, tourism and recreation business owners and concerned citizens united across the Alaska/British Columbia border to defend our transboundary salmon rivers from some of the largest proposed mines the world has ever seen. Visit us online at salmonbeyondborders.org and find us on Facebook and Twitter.