A layer of ancient volcanic ash is exposed in a core sample at the Donlin Mine exploration camp on Aug. 11, 2022. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
The Alaska Supreme Court is considering a pair of lawsuits that could stop construction of the Donlin gold mine in Southwest Alaska.
The court’s five justices heard arguments Tuesday in the cases, filed by Southwest Alaska tribal governments against the state, which is in charge of permitting the mine.
Lower-court justices have ruled against the plaintiffs in both cases, but if the Supreme Court were to reverse those earlier decisions, it would be a setback for mine development.
At the conclusion of Tuesday’s hearings, Chief Justice Peter Maassen said both cases will be taken under consideration, with a written decision to be released at a future date.
The mine project has already faced a barrage of lawsuits, including one in federal court that resulted in a partial victory for mine opponents earlier this year.
This week, members of the state’s high court were asked to consider whether the Alaska Department of Natural Resources improperly granted a key permit for a natural gas pipeline intended to supply fuel for the proposed mine’s power plant.