Advocates for Safe Alaska Highways
We Stand for Safety
Advocates for Safe Alaska Highways
We Stand for SafetyWhat is the Issue?
Kinross Gold Corporation plans to transport ore over 250 miles of the Alaska Highway, Richardson Highway, and Steese highway between the Manh Choh project near Tetlin and their processing plant at Ft. Knox near Cleary Summit north of Fairbanks. Double tractor-trailer ore hauling trucks that are each 95 feet long and weigh as much as 80 tons will depart the mine two to four times per hour around the clock. Up to 96 full truckloads per day will rumble through Tok, Dot Lake, Delta Junction, Salcha, North Pole, Fairbanks and Fox on their way to the Ft. Knox mill, where they will each deliver their individual payloads totaling up to 10 million pounds every day. The empty trucks then return over the same route to pick up new loads of ore.
Ore haul train configuration provided by Kinross – Nov 2022
Why are We Concerned?
The proposed Kinross Gold ore transportation project will increase risk to the traveling public and accelerate degradation of Interior Alaska’s transportation infrastructure. It will also increase poor air quality in the Fairbanks/North Pole non-attainment corridor and potentially opens liability issues for the State of Alaska.
Safety
Safety must be the primary goal and the ultimate concern for DOT&PF, Kinross, and Black Gold Transport, the trucking company created for this project. The addition of 80-ton, 95′ long double trailers driven in all Alaskan weather conditions will create unsafe conditions. ( Read More…)
Infrastructure
Kinross currently plans to use Interior Alaska public highways to transport ore without recognizing the damaging impact persistent heavy haul operations will have on our highway system. ( Read More…)
Liability
Who is liable if someone gets killed? We are concerned that the State of Alaska could be deemed negligent for failing to maintain safe conditions on our public roadways. ( Read More…)
Environment
The Fairbanks and North Pole areas are already non-compliant with EPA air quality standards. How will adding hundreds of diesel-powered double tractor-trailer trucks increase this problem? ( Read More…)
Who Are We?
Advocates for Safe Alaska Highways (ASAH) is a grassroots volunteer group of long-time Interior Alaska residents with a diversity of backgrounds and experiences. Together we are committed to ensuring that the health and safety of all Alaskans traveling our public highways is not jeopardized.
Advocates for Safe Alaska Highways (ASAH) is NOT against responsible mining in Alaska.
Our Goals
- Request the developer make public its Ore Transportation Plan.
- Raise public awareness and illustrate the extraordinary threat to the safety of Alaskans if this plan is adopted.
- Ensure that the plan has had sufficient review and analysis by the appropriate regulatory agencies.
Latest News from ASAH
DOT Commissioner shuts down future TAC meetings
Several TAC members commented that it was clear this “independent study” was actually being directed by DOT.
UPDATE: In-person option added for TAC meeting
The TAC will review the list of alternatives and modifications to the Kinross ore haul plan, as presented by Kinney Engineering.
Interior Delegation meets with constituents
ASAH asked the Delegation to protect the traveling public, pause the ore haul until the Corridor Study is finished and necessary infrastructure upgrades can be made, and scrutinize the hundreds of millions of dollars that these upgrades will cost the State.