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Red Dog Mine
For Photos of Red Dog Mine click here
| Current Population: |
34
(2008 Estimated Population (not Certified))
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| Incorporation Type: |
Unincorporated |
| Borough Located In: |
Northwest Arctic Borough |
| Taxes: |
Sales: None,
Property: None, Special: None
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| National Flood Insurance Program Participant: |
Yes |
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| Location
and Climate |
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Red Dog Mine is located in the DeLong Mountains north of Noatak, about 90 miles north of Kotzebue and and 55 miles inland from the Chukchi Sea. It is in the Northwest Arctic Borough. The community
lies at approximately 68.071840° North Latitude
and -162.890910° West Longitude.
(Sec. 24, T031N, R019W, Kateel River Meridian.)
Red Dog Mine is located in the
Kotzebue Recording District.
The area experiences a transitional climate zone. Temperatures average -21 to 15 during winter; 40 to 60 during summer. Temperature extremes have been recorded from -59 to 75. Snowfall averages 48 inches, with 10 to 13 inches of total precipitation per year. |
Topographic
map of
Red Dog Mine
area
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| History, Culture
and Demographics |
| Now the world's largest zinc concentrate mine, Red Dog was first discovered in 1953 when pilots and geologists noted mineral staining the area. The U.S. Geological Survey began formal documentation in 1970 and coined the name Red Dog Creek after long-time pilot and miner Bob Baker's company Red Dog. Baker's rusty dog frequently flew with him as he traveled the Northwest area. The Native regional corporation, NANA, became interested in selecting the land at Red Dog in 1976. With the 1980 passage of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, the Red Dog lands were chosen formally by NANA Regional Corp. In 1982, NANA shareholders signed an agreement with Cominco American regarding development of the deposit. The State agreed to invest in and take ownership of a road to the coast through Cape Krusenstern National Monument, and a shallow water dock and staging area at the port site. Construction of the road, port and mine site began in July 1987. With a total capital investment of $414 million, operations and production began in December 1989. In 1998, Cominco Alaska increased production to 1.2 million tons of concentrate. In July 2001, Cominco Ltd. merged with Tech Corporation, to form Tech Cominco Ltd.
The population of the community consists of 68.8%
Alaska Native or part Native.
Agreements with NANA have established committees that review the impacts of mining on traditional hunting and fishing activities, and give the local people authority and input over these activities. There are no housing units at Red Dog; all workers live in group facilities. The majority of the employees are Eskimo, shareholders of NANA Regional Corp.
During the 2000 U.S. Census,
total housing units numbered 0, and vacant housing units numbered 0.
U.S. Census data for Year
2000 showed 29 residents
as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was
0 percent,
although
0 percent of
all adults were not in the work force. The median household
income was $0, per capita income was $34,438, and
37.93 percent of residents
were living below the poverty level.
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| Facilities,
Utilities, Schools and Health Care |
| The group quarters facilities, water, sewer and electric systems at the mine are operated by Tech Cominco.
Electricity is provided by Corporate Generators.
There are no state operated schools located in the community.
Local hospitals or health clinics include Private staff.
Red Dog is classified as an isolated town/Sub-Regional Center, it is found in EMS Region 4A in the Maniilaq Association Region. Emergency Services have air access. Emergency service is provided by paid EMS Service
Auxiliary health care is provided by Red Dog EMS (345-9946).
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| Economy
and Transportation |
Red Dog Mine is a zinc and lead concentrate mining site, operated by Tech Cominco, Ltd., a Canadian-based group. The lands are owned by NANA Regional Corp. NANA/Lynden hauls the zinc and lead concentrates from the mine to the port site, and hauls fuel and freight on the return. Due to a shallow port, two lightering barges and four tugboats (operated by Foss Maritime) lighter the concentrate to ships anchored offshore. More information on production is at http://www.teckcominco.com/operations/reddog/reddog.htm. Cominco has a progressive training program that includes management training, a job shadow program, and aggressive shareholder hire goals. The company also allows flexible rotation schedules for its employees. Currently more than 60% of the employees at the mine are NANA shareholders, who receive wages exceeding $15 million annually.
There is a 55-mile gravel road from the mine to the shallow-water port for staging and exporting zinc and lead ore. The port is ice-free only 100 days a year. The port and road are state-owned. Barges deliver supplies, fuel and equipment each summer. A private 5,862' gravel lighted runway is available, operated by NANA Regional Corp. |
Organizations
with Local Offices
Regional
Organizations
Borough - Northwest Arctic Borough
P.O. Box 1110
Kotzebue, AK 99752
Phone 907-442-2500
Fax 907-442-2930 & 3740
E-mail hhildreth@nwabor.org or mwhiting@nwabor.org
Web http://www.nwabor.org
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