Thousands of Alaskans request State of Alaska to pursue federal action regarding threats to Southeast Alaska Rivers

September 21, 2016
 
CONTACT:
Jill Weitz, Salmon Beyond Borders campaign manager, (907) 957-9504 or jweitz@tu.org
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thousands of Alaskans request State of Alaska to pursue federal action regarding threats to Southeast Alaska Rivers
 
While state pursues Statement of Cooperation with British Columbia, Alaskans request a federal-level approach.
 
JUNEAU, AK – Yesterday afternoon, a letter signed by over 6,000 Alaskans calling for an international agreement to protect some of Alaska’s greatest salmon rivers was delivered to Lieutenant Governor Mallott's office. The State of Alaska is currently working on a Statement of Cooperation on Protection of Transboundary Waters with British Columbia (B.C.) officials, but thousands in Alaska and beyond have stated this document alone is not good enough.
 
“We are glad the state has focused much time and energy on this issue; however, we also hope the Walker administration acknowledges how this agreement with B.C. simply cannot adequately protect our rivers,” said Jill Weitz, campaign manager for Salmon Beyond Borders. “The thousands who rely on the Taku, Stikine and Unuk Rivers want to see enforceable protections and financial assurances, and these are not possible in a non-binding, unfunded Statement of Cooperation.”
 
Just in the last month alone, more than 1,700 Southeast Alaskans specifically stated they’d like the State Administration to work with Senator Murkowski and the rest of the Alaska Congressional Delegation, who are pushing hard to compel federal-level action in the transboundary situation. In the letter, supporters argue that the U.S. Department of State has the authority under the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 to pursue protections for Southeast Alaska’s fish and clean water. 
 
“It’s clear that Canadian mining can have real impacts on Alaska’s rivers and that B.C. is not equipped to adequately regulate their mining industry. For that, public concern continues to grow,” said Weitz. “We urge the Walker Administration to join with the Alaska Congressional Delegation, Washington's U.S. Senate Delegation, and the thousands of Alaskans who maintain that the Statement of Cooperation is only a step toward ensuring Alaskans aren’t bearing burden of upstream mining and secure an international solution for this international problem." 
 
More than ten large-scale open-pit hard rock mines in various stages of development in British Columbia threaten the transboundary Taku, Stikine and Unuk Rivers, which originate in B.C. and flow into Southeast Alaska. These rivers collectively support Southeast Alaska’s traditional way of life and multi-billion-dollar fishing and tourism industries.
 
“I was proud help deliver the comments of thousands of Alaskans who continue to push our leaders to address our concerns. The fact that over 6,000 Alaskans have come together asking for the same thing speaks volumes to the importance of this cause,” said Abe Tanha, owner of the private fishing business, Hooked on Juneau.  
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Salmon Beyond Borders is a campaign driven by sport and commercial fishermen, community leaders, tourism and recreation business owners and concerned citizens, in collaboration with Tribes and First Nations, united across the Alaska/British Columbia border to defend and sustain our transboundary rivers, jobs and way of life. Visit us online atsalmonbeyondborders.org and find us on Facebook and Twitter.

Jill Weitz of Salmon Beyond Borders (right) and Abe Tanha of Hooked on Juneau (middle) delivered the signatures of over 6,000 Alaskans to Lt. Governor Mallott's office Tuesdaycalling on the State of Alaska to work with the the U.S. State Department to secure enforceable protections for the rivers of Southeast Alaska. Barbara Blake, special advisor of the Lt. Governor (left) accepted the letters on behalf of the office.