Mining companies show off mine rescue skills in celebration of Alaska Mining Day

The 10th annual Alaska Mining Day kicked off May 10 in Fairbanks with a series of presentations by Interior Alaska mining officials and discussions of the importance of mining to the state’s economy. Mining has deep roots in the history of Fairbanks, which was founded when prospector Felix Pedro discovered gold near the Chena River, which flows through present-day Fairbanks.

The Alaska Miners Association hosted Alaska Mining Day at the Wedgewood Resort in the Interior city. The full-day event kicked off with a reading of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s proclamation of Mining Day. Kyle Moselle, with the state Department of Natural

Resources, led an afternoon panel on “Managing Alaska’s lands for multiple use, maximum benefit, and environmental protection.”

The day also included a panel discussion at the Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce with the general managers of Alaska’s major mining operations, remarks by Senator Murkowski and presentations through the day on economic benefits from mining, the

Alaska Native Corporations’ support national critical minerals development, job opportunities in mining and more.

The action shifted to Delta Junction east of Fairbanks the following day, where the 2022 Central Mine Rescue Competition was held at the Delta Training Center, which is operated by the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Mining and Petroleum Training Service.

Mine rescue contests serve as a training tool to improve the skills required to respond to a mine emergency. The competition strengthens cooperation among mining companies, suppliers, and appropriate authorities to enhance mine rescue skills.

The competition hosted teams from the Hecla Greens Creek Mine and Coeur-Alaska Kensington Mine in southeast Alaska; Northern Star Resources Pogo Mine near Delta; and three out-of-state mines, the Hecla Lucky Friday Mine and U.S. Silver Corporation Galena Mine, both in Idaho and the Teck Pend Oreille Mine in Washington.

The teams competed in four different areas to showcase and strengthen underground mine rescue skills.