http://www.seacc.org Keep on top of the latest news. daily 1 2007-07-17T18:03:47Z http://www.seacc.org/pressroom/press-releases/coeur-pulls-the-plug-on-kensington-paste-tailings-plan Coeur Alaska today announced that it is abandoning the paste tailings plan that was the results of months of discussions facilitated by the City and Borough of Juneau between the corporation and local conservation groups. Instead, Coeur will leave the mine’s immediate fate up to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Court will decide next year whether to overturn a lower court’s ruling which declared Coeur’s original proposal to dump tailings in a lake illegal. In its press release, Coeur states that its drastic action stemmed from unspecified “issues” raised by the EPA and from the agency’s request that they review new alternative tailings disposal proposals. SEACC’s initial reading of the EPA documents found no major modification requirements and no request for new alternative disposal plans. “I think EPA will be surprised to find they’re being blamed for this,” said Russell Heath, Executive Director of the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council (SEACC). “We have reviewed the EPA’s comments and don’t see any showstoppers—nothing that couldn’t be resolved, probably before the Supreme Court even hears the case.” No publisher mark 2008-09-24T18:27:34Z Press Release http://www.seacc.org/pressroom/press-releases/forest-service-local-conservation-groups-resolve-timber-sale-appeal Working together, the U.S. Forest Service, Southeast Alaska Conservation Council and the Sitka Conservation Society have resolved the conservation groups’ appeal of the proposed Iyouktug timber sale on Chichagof Island near Hoonah, in the Tongass National Forest. Under the agreement, the Forest Service will delay offering expensive helicopter logging sale units, and four units in a roadless area. The agency will first offer more economical, non-helicopter units designed for smaller timber operators. The Forest Service also agreed to modify some units to lessen the impact of logging on fish, bear and deer habitat. In return, the conservation groups will not challenge the sale until or unless the delayed units are offered. No publisher laura 2008-08-21T17:34:21Z Press Release http://www.seacc.org/pressroom/press-releases/back-to-court-on-kensington Today the U.S. Supreme Court decided to hear the case surrounding the Kensington Mine’s plan to destroy a lake by using it as a tailings dump. The case represents a dangerous assault on America’s rivers, lakes and streams and the federal Clean Water Act. No publisher laura 2008-08-01T00:38:41Z Press Release http://www.seacc.org/pressroom/press-releases/collaborative-community-forest-plan-steps-into-action The Hoonah Community Forest Project, a collaborative effort spearheaded by the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council (SEACC) with input from local Hoonah residents and the U.S. Forest Service, begins its first stage of implementation this week as members of the various groups begin restoration efforts at Kennel Creek, south of Hoonah. No publisher laura 2008-07-30T00:20:22Z Press Release