Red Dog Mine Extension Aqqaluk Project

The Red Dog Mine, in remote northwest Alaska, is the world's largest producer of zinc. The company proposed an expansion of the mine. In evaluating this request, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determined that it would be necessary to do an environmental impact statement (EIS) to assess the impact of the proposed activities on the environment and people of the region. The region's tribal nonprofit health services provider, Maniilaq Association, represented local Alaska Native villages as a cooperating agency on this EIS. Maniilaq Association completed the HIA in collaboration with experts from the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The HIA noted that, overall, there would be few major new impacts from the proposed expansion and many of the impacts from the mine had already come to pass. The HIA addressed a number of health concerns, such as the potential for contamination of the local water supply and wild foods (caribou, fish and berries); exposure to airborne dust containing heavy metals; the loss of income, employment and community revenues generated by the mine if the mine were to close; and the implications for local services, such as education, water and sanitation. The HIA recommended: 1) additional monitoring for specific contaminants in caribou; and 2) the formation of a health advisory council—with members from industry, the community and public health agencies—to address any concerns that might arise during operation of the mine in the future.