"The State of Alaska and fishermen, Tlingit & Haida, and technical experts tell very different stories of B.C. transboundary mining at House State Affairs Committee hearing.
Alaskans testifying before the Alaska State Legislature House State Affairs Committee on Thursday, May 7th, agreed on an immediate need for greater State of Alaska transparency and engagement when it comes to transboundary rivers flowing from British Columbia into Southeast Alaska; a binding international agreement for Alaska and B.C.’s shared international rivers; and more. The Committee heard from the Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association, multiple nonprofits and the State of Alaska. The consensus came after testimony from Alaska Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Doug Vincent-Lang and Stephen Buckley of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, in which Vincent-Lang excluded key, telling details on the state of B.C. mining activity in the headwaters of the Taku, Stikine, Unuk and Salmon Rivers."