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The National Park Service (NPS)
in cooperation with Teck Cominco Alaska Incorporated (TCAK), the
NANA Regional Corporation (NANA), and the Alaska Industrial Development
and Export Authority (AIDEA) has released the NPS manuscript entitled:
Spatial patterns of cadmium and lead deposition on and adjacent
to National Park Service lands in the vicinity of the Red Dog Mine,
Alaska by L. Hasselbach, et al. The attached letter by the NPS,
TCAK, NANA, and AIDEA summarizes key points about the report. The
full report is available on-line at: http://www.nps.gov/akso/NPS_CAKR-Metals_2004.pdf.
For additional information about this report, Linda Hasselbach can
be reached at (509) 996-8031. --MORE--
The National Park Service (NPS) in
cooperation with Teck Cominco Alaska Incorporated (TCAK), the NANA
Regional Corporation (NANA), and the Alaska Industrial Development
and Export Authority (AIDEA) has released the NPS manuscript entitled:
Spatial patterns of cadmium and lead deposition on and adjacent
to National Park Service lands in the vicinity of the Red Dog Mine,
Alaska by L. Hasselbach, et al. This research identified elevated
levels of lead, cadmium and zinc in mosses collected during 2001
from throughout Cape Krusenstern National Monument and adjacent
areas. The Monument is located to the north of Kotzebue, Alaska.
The metals are likely associated with dust from the ore concentrate
hauling and storage operations of the Red Dog Mine. The National
Park Service is required by law to protect natural and healthy ecosystems.
The ecological effects of artificially elevated cadmium and lead
levels on the Monument are still being assessed; however, the State
of Alaska Department of Health & Social Services, Division of Public
Health has concluded that the metals found in plants used for subsistence
near Red Dog Mine, Alaska do not pose a public health hazard. --MORE--
The largest zinc mine in the world, Red Dog is located northeast
of the Monument; the Delong Mountain Regional Transportation System
(DMTS) traverses the monument and ends at an ocean port facility.
In 2001, the National Park Service released the results of a study
done in 2000 that showed elevated lead, cadmium and zinc levels
along the road. The most recent research provides statistically
generated spatial distribution patterns for the lead, and cadmium
values within and adjacent to the 650,000 acre monument. Wide areas
of the Monument were found to have elevated amounts of the metals
in comparison to regional data from northern Alaska. Concentrations
diminished rapidly with distance from the road. Study results indicated
that metal concentrations in moss were not attributable to metal
concentrations in subsurface soils. More that 200 moss samples were
taken during the study in an area covering approximately 2000 square
miles. Mosses were used because they obtain most of their nutrients
from precipitation and from deposition of airborne particles, rather
than taking in minerals elements from the soil. Ore concentrate
is transported from the mine to the port in covered trucks. TCAK,
the mine's operator has reported that ore concentrate dust generated
in the unloading and loading process at the port and mine had resulted
in contamination of the trucks. This dust was then blown by wind
or washed by rain from the truck surfaces during transit. TCAK has
implemented operational and facility improvements since the operation
started in 1989. Extensive study and dust control efforts, totaling
$15M, have been underway since the release of the first study in
2001. These improvements are showing substantially reduced dispersal
of ore concentrate dust during storage and transportation. They
have also implemented an extensive risk assessment that is being
conducted with oversight by the state of Alaska's Department of
Environmental Conservation and in active communication with other
stakeholders. The report was peer reviewed by nine subject-matter
experts from academia, government, and industry. The reviewers were
selected by a three-person coordinating committee that included
technical representatives for the NPS, TCAK, and NANA. For additional
information related to this report, Linda Hasselbach (NPS) can be
reached at (509) 996-8031. Jim Kulas (TCAK) can be reached at (907)
426-9129. --END--
Privacy & Disclaimer
Author:Jane
Tranel
Last modified on: January 23, 2004
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