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TESTIMONY OF NEIL MACKINNON 



CHAIRMAN OF THE JUNEAU BRANCH 



OF THE ALASKA MINERS ASSOCIATION 



GOOD MORNING MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS NEIL 

 MACKINNON, AND I AM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JUNEAU BRANCH OF THE 

 ALASKA MINERS ASSOCIATION; HOWEVER, BECAUSE OUR CHAPTER'S 

 MEMBERSHIP EXTENDS THROUGHOUT SOUTHEAST, ALASKA, I AM HEAR 

 TODAY TO SPEAK FOR THE ORGANIZED MINING INTERESTS OF ALL OF 

 SOUTHEAST ALASKA. 



WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PENDING LEGISLATION AND 

 THE IMPACT WHICH IT IS LIKELY TO HAVE ON THE MINING 

 INTERESTS OF THIS AREA, NOW AND IN THE FUTURE. THE COASTAL 

 RANGE IS TEEMING WITH MINERAL DEPOSITS WHICH HAVE ALREADY 

 BEEN IDENTIFIED TO SOME EXTENT, AND IN SOME INSTANCES ARE IN 

 THE PROCESS OF BEING BROUGHT INTO PRODUCTION. HOWEVER, 

 BEYOND THAT THERE ARE MANY AREAS OF HIGH POTENTIAL WHICH 

 EVERYONE AGREES MAY PROVE TO HARBOR EVEN BIGGER DEPOSITS. 



IF YOU LOOK ONLY AT THREE OF THE KNOWN DEPOSITS IN 

 SOUTHEAST ALASKA, YOU WILL UNDERSTAND MY POINT. THE GREENS 

 CREEK DEPOSIT IS JUST NOW STARTING COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION. 

 BUT WHEN IT GETS UP AND GOING IT WILL BE THE LARGEST SILVER 

 PRODUCER IN NORTH AMERICA. IRONICALLY, IT IS NOT A SILVER 



