A mining company attempting to access mineral deposits through a unique hoverbarge system on the Taku River says it will continue to pursue permits despite some Juneau residents’ hopes that the project is dead in the water.

Redfern Resources Ltd., a subsidiary of Redcorp Ventures Ltd., has applied for environmental assessment approval under the State of Alaska to use an air cushion barge that would provide year-round water access to northern B.C.’s Tulsequah Chief mine.

“This really is pushing everybody’s buttons from the Taku Tlingit to the Alaskan fishermen,” Chris Zimmer, U.S. coordinator with Rivers Without Borders in Juneau, said about the project that faces opposition from both sides of the border, as well as an economic downturn. “All this raises the question of, is this even a viable project?”

On Dec. 31, the State of Alaska’s Department of Natural Resources requested additional information from the company amidst concerns surrounding impact to habitat, water flow, wildlife transit and sedimentation. The state’s Department of Fish and Game also filed a memorandum requesting the area be designated “important habitat”.

“The concerns in Juneau are about the health of the Taku,” Zimmer said about the salmon-producing river. “Certainly, anything that’s going to threaten those fish—that’s going to threaten jobs here in Juneau—is going to get a hard look.”

The Tulsequah Chief mine, which is slated to begin production later this year, operated in the 1950s with access via the Taku during high-water months. Recent attempts to access the mine with a 160-kilometre road from Atlin were opposed by the Tlingit First Nation and eventually deemed to be financially unfeasible.

Salina Landstad, manager of public relations and corporate communications for Redcorp, said the company will respond to the State of Alaska’s request for additional information once hoverbarge construction is complete and requests for on- and off-site testing fulfilled. The barge’s completion is expected over the next month.

“It’s our intention to collect some of that information and data just as soon as we can,” she said.

In the meantime, Redfern’s three-week break from mine construction during the holidays has been extended indefinitely. Landstad denied that the delay is a result of current economic conditions.

Redcorp shares were trading at C$0.035 on Monday, down from their 52-week high of C$0.31 last February.

“We have raised funds for the project and, given the fact we’re not in production yet and we won’t be till the end of this year, it doesn’t affect us at this moment,” she said. “At this point, it’s hard to say when construction will resume.”

Zimmer pointed out that the state would still have to decide whether Redcorp’s response is sufficient.

“There’s no guarantee that whatever Redfern submits is going to be accepted by the State of Alaska, and the track record shows their response has not been acceptable to the State of Alaska,” he said.

“The Tulsequah Chief project is dead.”

Amanda Follett is a regular contributor to the Tyee.