Begich Praises Army Corps Decision on Kensington Mine Project

U.S. Sen. Mark Begich today issued the following statement after the Army
Corps of Engineers issued a decision that will allow Coeur Alaska, Inc. to
proceed with the Kensington Mine project near Juneau.

“I am pleased to hear that, after reviewing the facts and more than 8,500
public comments, the Army Corps of Engineers made the right decision. The
Corps has extended the permit issued in 2005 to Coeur Alaska authorizing the
company to construct a mine tailings storage facility in Lower Slate Lake at
the Kensington gold mine in Southeast Alaska.

“The amended permit confirms my belief that the disposal of tailings in
Slate Lake is the environmentally preferable option, and when the project is
complete will actually leave the lake with improved fish habitat.

“This is good news for an ailing Southeast Alaska economy, and after twenty
years of study and debate, Alaskans can finally go to work. The mine will
create hundreds of good-paying jobs for Alaskans and help expand the mining
industry in a responsible way.