Bethel City Council has voted 6-1, with Mayor Rick Rob in opposition, for the city to submit comments on the Donlin Gold draft environmental impact statement.
“To get 5,500 pages of information and then be like 'thanks' and roll away from that is just sad and ridiculous," Council Member Zach Fansler said. Fansler introduced the measure and says he's disappointed the city had not sent already sent comments.
Ann Capela, Bethel City Manager, says she's prepared a list of concerns about the proposed use of Bethel’s port by Dolin Gold to transport mining materials like explosives and cyanide solution.
“If an emergency occurs, I don’t see Donlin Gold mine providing staffing for emergency and... water suppression for the fires. So those are the things that I’m concerned about. I already wrote them in an email and I want to write them in an official letterhead," Capela said.
The deadline to submit comments is May 31.
