Editing Elim, Alaska (section)

==Boulder Creek uranium mine controversy==
In 2005, mining company Full Metal Minerals announced a partnership with Triex Minerals Corporation to develop a uranium deposit north of Elim.<ref>[http://www.fullmetalminerals.com/s/NewsReleases.asp?ReportID=118366&_Type=News&_Title=Full-Metal-Options-Boulder-Creek-Uranium-Property-to-Triex "Full Metal Options Boulder Creek Uranium Property to Triex"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711053957/http://www.fullmetalminerals.com/s/NewsReleases.asp?ReportID=118366&_Type=News&_Title=Full-Metal-Options-Boulder-Creek-Uranium-Property-to-Triex |date=July 11, 2011 }} September 28, 2005. Full Metal Minerals Press Release. Retrieved 2009-08-11.</ref> Development of the site began with survey and exploration work in Sept 2005.<ref>[http://www.fullmetalminerals.com/s/NewsReleases.asp?ReportID=126716&_Type=News&_Title=Full-Metal-and-Triex-Boulder-Creek-Uranium-Deposit-2006-Drill-Programs "Full Metal and Triex Boulder Creek Uranium Deposit - 2006 Drill Programs"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711054017/http://www.fullmetalminerals.com/s/NewsReleases.asp?ReportID=126716&_Type=News&_Title=Full-Metal-and-Triex-Boulder-Creek-Uranium-Deposit-2006-Drill-Programs |date=July 11, 2011 }} January 16, 2006. Full Metal Minerals Press Release. Retrieved 2009-08-11.</ref> Initial drilling exploration was completed in July 2006,<ref>[http://www.fullmetalminerals.com/s/NewsReleases.asp?ReportID=149679&_Type=News&_Title=Triex-and-Full-Metal-Continue-Uranium-Exploration-at-Boulder-Creek "Triex and Full Metal Continue Uranium Exploration at Boulder Creek"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711054026/http://www.fullmetalminerals.com/s/NewsReleases.asp?ReportID=149679&_Type=News&_Title=Triex-and-Full-Metal-Continue-Uranium-Exploration-at-Boulder-Creek |date=July 11, 2011 }} September 7, 2006. Full Metal Minerals Press Release. Retrieved 2009-08-11.</ref><ref>[http://www.triexminerals.com/s/BoulderCreek.asp "Boulder Creek Project"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723100205/http://www.triexminerals.com/s/BoulderCreek.asp |date=July 23, 2008 }} Triex Minerals Corporation. Retrieved August 13, 2009</ref> confirming deposits of "sandstone-hosted uranium" at the Boulder Creek site in Death Valley, north of Elim.<ref>[http://www.fullmetalminerals.com/s/NewsReleases.asp?ReportID=158471&_Type=News&_Title=Full-Metal-and-Triex-Announce-Results-from-Drilling-and-Reconnaissance-Expl... "Full Metal and Triex Announce Results from Drilling and Reconnaissance Exploration, Boulder Creek Uranium Project, Alaska"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711054032/http://www.fullmetalminerals.com/s/NewsReleases.asp?ReportID=158471&_Type=News&_Title=Full-Metal-and-Triex-Announce-Results-from-Drilling-and-Reconnaissance-Expl... |date=July 11, 2011 }} November 16, 2006. Full Metal Minerals Press Release. Retrieved 2009-08-11.</ref>

The Boulder Creek mine site is located on part of the [[Tubutulik River]]. Serious water and air pollution risks, including radioactive byproducts, have been identified with "in-situ leeching", the type of uranium mining proposed for the site.<ref name="alaskaconservation.org">[http://alaskaconservation.org/_pages/story/rotating_lead_story3b-EF.php "ACF Partners Join Village to Stop Uranium Mine: Effects could be devastating"]{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} 2008. Alaska Conservation Foundation. Retrieved August 11, 2009.</ref> Villagers have raised concerns that radioactive by-products of uranium mining would adversely affect the plants, fish, and wildlife on which they rely.<ref>"Iditarod a stage for mining protest", March 13, 2008. Sandra L. Medearis. ''The Nome Nugget''</ref> In September 2007, Irene Murray of Aniguiin High School in Elim wrote an open letter to Alaska Gov. [[Sarah Palin]], drawing attention to projected impacts on the local environment and human health.<ref>[http://blog.bssd.org/2007/09/20/elim-uranium-mine-student-blog "Student Letter to Governor Palin"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305050958/http://blog.bssd.org/2007/09/20/elim-uranium-mine-student-blog/ |date=March 5, 2009 }} September 20, 2007. BSSD Strait Talk. Retrieved 2009-08-11.</ref> Protests led by Elim Students Against Uranium (ESAU)<ref>[http://www.indigogirls.com/activism/Elim%20Protest.pdf "Elim Students Against Uranium"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727065730/http://www.indigogirls.com/activism/Elim%20Protest.pdf |date=July 27, 2011 }} 2008-10. Indigenous Environmental Network. Retrieved August 11, 2009.</ref> have included demonstrations in 2008 and 2009 at the [[Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race]] ceremonial start, and on the Iditarod trail in Elim.<ref>[http://www.atlanticfreepress.com/news/1/8531-alaska-natives-protest-uranium-exploration-on-iditarod-trail.html "Alaska Natives protest uranium exploration on Iditarod Trail"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214082333/http://atlanticfreepress.com/news/1/8531-alaska-natives-protest-uranium-exploration-on-iditarod-trail.html |date=December 14, 2010 }} March 14, 2009. ''Atlantic Free Press''. Retrieved 2009-08-11.</ref><ref>[http://www.wateradvocacy.org/id13.html "Uranium mine threatens subsistence fishery in Native village of Elim, Alaska"] Center for Water Advocacy. Retrieved August 11, 2009.</ref>

The village has raised legal concerns over the project that include an alleged failure by the federal [[Bureau of Land Management]] to provide adequate public notice and public comment periods regarding the Boulder Creek mine project.<ref>[http://www.wateradvocacy.org/id67.html "Native Village of Elim Alaska Fights Uranium Mine"] Center for Water Advocacy. Retrieved August 11, 2009.</ref> Portions of the regulatory process are under the purview of the [[Nuclear Regulatory Commission]].<ref name="alaskaconservation.org"/>