Weekly Star Editorial for February 27, 1997

Lets Build More Railroad

Our U.S. Senator, Frank Murkowski, continues to remind us that Northwest Alaska has enormous, world class deposits of zinc, copper, and coal. In addition, there is growing interest in gold prospects in the area. The Point Ley deposit is very high quality coal that would have large international demand if there was an economic way to get the coal to an ice free port. The Copper deposits near the Kobuk river are also world class and, if there was a way to get the copper to market, there would be a large and increasing world demand.

In addition, if a mine mouth power plant was built near the Point Ley coal deposits, the power would allow for the processing of Kobuk copper to sheet and wire stock. This refining process would add value to the product and reduce the transportation pressure. The large zinc mine, operated by Cominco at Red Dog, cannot ship ore during the winter due to sea ice. Access to a better year-round port would significantly enhance their operation. This amount of ore will make only high-volume rail or sea-borne transportation a practical means of getting the ore to a year-round port.

When the first railroads were built across the U.S. and Canada, the projects were made financially viable by the inclusion of public land in the agreements. With the inclusion of some selected public land and the financial strength of the entities involved, it may be possible to bond for the several billion dollar cost of building the railroad in the next decade. If the railroad is built (or extended) to the mineral deposits in the Northwest, power lines, gas lines, and fiber optic cables can be laid in the right of way. The fiber optic cable could be the a link in a new route for telecommunication lines to Siberia and Asia, replacing the problematic transpacific fiber optic cable, and thus completing a route that the U.S. Signal Corps pioneered as a telegraph line nearly 100 years ago.

We are studying this issue and meeting with the major players who are interested in this project. We certainly would like to hear from constituents who have ideas or input on this huge project for Alaska’s future. I can be reached by phone, (800) 342-2199 or (907) 465-2199; by mail, State Capitol Building, Room 428, Juneau, AK 99801; or via the Internet, Representative_Fred_Dyson@legis.state.ak.us. You can also send us information via the Public Opinion Messages (POMs) by calling the Legislative Information Office at 258-8111 (TTY 258-8173).