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Environment
NPS report tracks lead dust from mine near villages


The National Park Service released a report on Monday tracking lead dust contamination near the world's largest zinc mine.

The study showed that lead dust has traveled miles beyond the Red Dog mine. But it says the levels aren't high enough to affect Alaska Native subsistence food gathering and hunting.

Alaska Natives in the villages of Noatak and Kivalina are concerned about contamination from the mine. Conflicting studies have put their food supply at high or low risk, depending on the source of the information.

The NPS conducted a study because a road leading to the mine crosses the Cape Krusenstern National Monument. Trucks carrying zinc from the mine to the local port.

The mine is operated by Teck Cominco for the NANA Regional Corp., an Alaska Native corporation.

Get the Story:
Study trails Red Dog's toxic dusts (The Anchorage Daily News 8/10)

Related Reports:
State Division of Public Health: Subsistence Foods Safe In Communities Near Red Dog | Alaska Community Action on Toxics: Red Dog and Subsistence: Analysis of Reports on Elevated Levels of Heavy Metals in Plants Used for Subsistence Near Red Dog Mine, Alaska

Relevant Links:
Cape Krusenstern National Monument - http://www.nps.gov/cakrhttp://www.akaction.org

Related Stories:
State assures Alaska Natives that food is safe (07/30)
Mine said to contaminate subsistence foods (06/10)
Supreme Court affirms EPA role in Alaska mine (01/22)
Supreme Court hearing Alaska mine permit case (10/08)
Supreme Court accepts Alaska mine permit appeal (02/25)
Alaska mine target of $60 million suit (09/20)
Village buoyed by court ruling on mine (7/31)
Alaska Natives to sue over mine damage (7/18)