In a recent win for the people of the Kuskokwim and opponents of the Donlin mine, a judge ruled in June that a more extensive environmental impact assessment is needed before construction can continue. Donlin Gold Mine would be one of the largest open pit gold mines in the world, and is proposed 10 miles north of the Village of Crooked Creek on a...
The proposed West Su Industrial Access Road, a 100+ mile road built with public funds that would open up a new mining district west of the Susitna Valley, garnered attention from Alaskan lawmakers during this spring’s legislative session. By and large, the legislature upheld what we’ve been saying all along—Alaskans should not be on the hook to...
Cook Inletkeeper has joined a lawsuit to stop the Johnson Tract Gold Mine — an industrial project that threatens one of Alaska’s last wild coastal ecosystems. Last week, Inletkeeper joined the Center for Biological Diversity, the Chickaloon Village Traditional Council, and a local stakeholder who fishes in Tuxedni Bay in a lawsuit aimed at the...
For Immediate Release, May 20, 2025 Contact: Satchel Pondolfino, Cook Inletkeeper, satchel@inletkeeper.org Lisa Wade, Chickaloon Village Traditional Council, lrwade@chickaloon-nsn.gov Marlee Goska, Center for Biological Diversity, mgoska@biologicaldiversity.org Lawsuit Aims to Protect Cook Inlet, Belugas from Water Pollution, Noise Gold Mining...
Public Comments Needed: Don’t fund the West Su Access Road — Satchel Pondolfino The 100+ mile West Su Access Road - an industrial corridor proposed to service a myriad of foreign mining lease holders, primarily gold leases, would kick off a tidal wave of industrialization in the West Susitna watershed. Characterized by healthy intact habitat,...
Proposed Johnson Tract Gold Mine Threatens Endangered Belugas and Would Industrialize Tuxedni Bay — Satchel Pondolfino As during any administration change over, a shuffle of last minute action from executive orders, to permitting decisions to pardons ensues. During last week’s shuffle, Inletkeeper was disappointed, though not surprised, to...
Fast Tracking Johnson Tract — Satchel Pondolfino How do we fight a gold mine during the next administration? We pay attention and keep a watchful eye out for corner cutting, we build our case for inevitable litigation, and we keep repeating the truth: Alaska does not need more gold mines. We don’t need them in Bristol Bay, in the Kuskokwim, or on...
Homer Energy Fair Homer Drawdown is beginning to wrap up its third solution: Climate Smart Homer Homes. To cumulate our efforts, the climate solutions community is hosting the Homer Energy Fair, a one-stop shop to connect Homer area residents with energy-efficiency resources. The Homer Energy Fair will be held on Saturday, January 25th, at...
Learning from Local Leaders — Satchel Pondolfino Over the nearly 8 years of organizing programs and campaigns with Inletkeeper, I’ve learned that sometimes our role is as simple as holding the door open. A consistent joy of the work is connecting with and learning from the people who walk in the room, figuratively and literally. Our job is to...
Heat Pump 101 Wow, how gratifying it is when our community shows up! We unexpectedly filled both virtual and physical rooms with last week’s Heat Pump 101 event in numbers greater than we’ve seen since precovid. If you were not one of the ~130 people in attendance and are curious about heat pumps, watch the meeting recording here. This event...
