Over the past 30 to 40 years, residential, recreational, and business development within the Fairbanks North Star Borough has expanded into hills surrounding Fairbanks. Gold exploration and mining to the west, north, and east of Fairbanks have also accelerated in these same areas in recent years.
Unfortunately for property owners, the State of Alaska retains subsurface mineral rights for most private land and mining can happen nearly anywhere on state land, even adjacent to established neighborhoods. State law does not necessarily protect neighborhoods, businesses, or individual properties as 97% of Borough land is zoned for "General Use" where almost any use is considered acceptable.
Residential neighborhoods and gold mining are incompatible in the immediate vicinity of Fairbanks, but increased exploration from mining interests is likely to result in conflicts between residents and mines.
Save Our Domes seeks to find ways to prevent or mitigate these conflicts.
Neighborhoods or Exploration and Mineral Development Sites?
There are five major exploration projects in the hills around Fairbanks that would have substantial impacts on neighborhoods.
The projects are at different stages of development, but none have had the public disclosure or dialogue needed to evaluate the benefits and risks or equitability to the community. Thankfully, mine development is a long process - but we need to get involved sooner than later.
Pages for each project below are under construction.
"It is the policy of the State to encourage the settlement of its land and the development of its resources by making them available for maximum use consistent with the public interest."
Who defines what the "Public Interest" really is?
Permits for exploration and mining have already been granted with minimal opportunity for public knowledge and input.
Millions of dollars have already been invested in claiming and identifying multiple viable mining prospects in the borough. The domes and ridges around Fairbanks are prime targets due to accessibility as well as existing energy, road, and mill infrastructure that would make opening new gold mines highly profitable for investors.
Much of the active exploration lies adjacent to neighborhoods or under popular recreation areas. Large scale mining is not compatible with these existing uses.
