North Pole City Council unanimously opposes current Manh Choh ore-hauling plan

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - The North Pole City Council voted unanimously at its Monday, February 7 meeting to oppose the current plan to haul ore across a busy corridor in the Alaska Interior.

Kinross is currently planning to use large trucks to deliver ore from the Manh Choh mine south of Tok up to the Fort Knox mine to be processed by way of the Alaska, Richardson, and Steese Highways.

Presenters at the council meeting predicted a series of issues with the transportation plan, which runs through North Pole.

These include noise pollution, conflicts with traffic and school bus routes, and damage to the road.

“We love to see our resources developed. I grew up in north Idaho. Mining lumber, that was huge, so I grew up watching this stuff, but we need to do it efficiently and effectively. Watching this resolution come to pass has been really interesting and inspiring of how we need to come together as public and elected officials and to really see change,” said council member Anton Keller.

Mayor Mike Welch plans to present this resolution to members of the Interior delegation in Juneau later this month.

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