Action Alert: Protect Kigluait and Submit Public Comment

POA-2018-00210 Graphite Creek PN > Alaska District > Public Notices View –“Graphite One LLC, stated the purpose is mine graphite from mineral leases on State of Alaska land and process the graphite into commercially viable ore concentrate for transport to the Port of Nome via a new 17.3-mile gravel access road and the existing Seward Peninsula public road system. The ore concentrate would be shipped out of Alaska for further processing and manufacturing of Coated Spherical Graphite, which would supply material needed for electric vehicle lithium-ion batteries and energy storage as well as other high-grade graphite products.”

Please share and submit a public comment below.

Sample Letter

Subject: Public Comment POA-2018-00210

Send to: [email protected]

 

Dear Mr. Mazer, 

I am writing to submit a public comment regarding Permit Application POA-2018-00210 for the proposed Graphite One open-pit graphite mine in the Kigluaik Mountains of Alaska.

I am deeply concerned about the potential environmental, cultural, and public health impacts this project poses to the region, particularly to the communities of Brevig Mission and Teller, which are located near the proposed site and along the Kougarok Road, the intended haul route.

Despite the magnitude of this project, there has not been a formal public notice issued through local newspapers serving these affected communities. Many residents remain unaware that the public comment period is currently open and scheduled to close on October 31, 2025, which provides limited opportunity for meaningful engagement and participation.

Given these concerns, I respectfully request the following actions:

1. Extension of the public comment period from 30 days to at least 120 days, to ensure that all affected communities and Tribal governments have adequate time to review the project materials and provide input.
2. A full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in place of the currently proposed Environmental Assessment, due to the scale, duration, and potential risks of the project.
3. A public hearing conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers within the region, to allow community members, Tribal representatives, and local organizations to formally express their concerns and have them included in the public record.

Both the Native Village of Brevig Mission and the Native Village of Teller have officially expressed opposition to this project. Their positions reflect the deep concern many residents share about potential harm to subsistence resources, water quality, and the long-term wellbeing of the land and people.

This project has far-reaching implications for the environment, for local and Tribal sovereignty, and for the future health of rural Alaskan communities. I urge the Corps to take these concerns seriously and to ensure that this process remains transparent, inclusive, and accountable.

Thank you for your time and consideration of these comments.

THE PERIOD FOR PUBLIC COMMENT HAS CLOSED.