432 



ALASKA MINERS ASSOCIATION, INC. 



Those proposed Wilderness areas that we 

 reconsideration and exclusion from HR 987 include: 



feel 



deserve 



1. Berners Bay - The purposed Wilderness area borders two active 

 mine development projects and proposes a Wilderness designation 

 for some of the most highly prospective mineral ground in 

 southeastern Alaska. The proposed area also incorporates active 

 patented mining claims. 



The 



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combination of the Berners Bay proposal and the Chuck 

 r/Port Houghton/Sandborn Canal proposals would effectively 

 ve from further exploration approximately 35% of the 

 ently active goldbelt. The goldbelt is a geologic entity 

 ned by structure and rock type within which geolgists are 

 sing their attention in hopes of finding additional mines on 

 scale of the Kensington, Alaska Juneau and/or Treadwell type. 

 anies active in this area include Echo Bay, Coeur d'Alene 

 s, FMC Corporation, Hecla, Sealaska Corporation, Placer Dome, 

 tor American and a number of individuals. 



2. Chuck River and Port Houghton/Sandborn Canal - The proposed 

 Wilderness removes from exploration or development a large 

 percentage of the goldbelt described under the Berners Bay 

 comments and incorporates the former producing mines of Suradum 

 Chief and Point Ashley and the vein mines at Windham Bay. Our 

 comment in reference to the Berners Bay area is also appropriate 

 here, that is, that the combination of the Chuck River/Port 

 Houghton area and the Berners Bay area would remove from 

 exploration upwards of 35% of the most highly prospective mineral 

 ground in southeast Alaska. 



3. 



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d Bay - 

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4. West Duncan Canal - The West Duncan Canal proponed Wilderness 

 incorporatea rocks that have been described in the just-released 

 U.S. Geological publication, cited earlier, within which 

 government scientists believe that there is a 90% probability for 

 the discovery of at least two mines and a 501 probability for the 

 discovery of four mines. We believe the West Duncan Canal 

 proposed Wilderness is a classic example' of a political and/or 

 emotional decision which cannot be supported by scientific fact. 



