THE LUTAK DOCK AN UNNECESSARY PROJECT RISKING THE CHILKAT WATERSHED
Produced by Lynn Canal Conservation April 2023 This e-book is free to distribute, in full, for informational, non-commercial purposes.
TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. 2. 3. 4.
Our freight needs are met .................................................................pg. 10 The Borough is pursuing an ore dock ............................................pg. 18 The Borough's RAISE grant application was inaccurate .........pg. 62 Additional Risks .................................................................................pg. 94
Introduction All of the information you are about to see is excerpted or summarized from technical reports, historical documents, public records requests, and news stories dating back more than a decade. All of this information has been checked and rechecked for accuracy. We have provided sources and links to those sources, to make it easier for you to look further into each issue raised. We believe that this information is important for citizens and taxpayers to know, and relevant to the future of this community and landscape. Please reach out with your questions or concerns.
2018 "Haines may be in a position to take greater economic advantage of the Yukon mining industry. If port infrastructure capable of handling mineral concentrates is developed in Haines to meet the needs of the Palmer Project, that same infrastructure could serve Yukon mines." — 2018 HEDC Baseline Report pg. 62
A brief history
Lutak Dock
This is the tank farm, a contaminated site. The U.S. Army built the Lutak Dock in 1953 to supply construction materials for the 626-mile HainesFairbanks pipeline, a Cold War-era project that delivered fuel to military bases in the interior.
1977
The Army gave the Lutak Dock to the City of Haines. The cathodic protection system that the Army maintained and operated over the years was turned off after the City of Haines took ownership of the dock due to the associated operational costs.
1983 The City of Haines added a barge transfer ramp (ro-ro) to the face of Lutak Dock, which is what the town used to receive its freight.
After its installation in 1983, the old ro-ro started to fail over the years. with both the old ro-ro and the old Lutak Dock failing, Haines and Klukwan needed a way to reliably receive freight, and the Lutak Dock project was a top community priority. But now...
1. OUR FREIGHT NEEDS ARE MET After its installation in 1983, the old ro-ro started to degrade over the years. By 2016, with both the old ro-ro and the old Lutak Dock failing, Haines and Klukwan needed a way to reliably receive freight, and the Lutak Dock project was a top community priority. But now, as you'll see, our freight needs are met.
This is a closeup of AML's new ro-ro dock. Before the 2020 construction and implementation of the new ro-ro dock, the Lutak dock project was essential for supporting our local freight deliveries. Even though the situation has changed and we now have an operational freight dock, many people still believe the dock project is essential.
2020 AML reached an agreement with the Haines Borough in 2018 for the construction of a new RO/RO ramp, constructed in 2020 for $2.6 million
Photo by Turnagain Marine
The new ro-ro is on the borough-owned tidelands parallel to the dock. The borough has a 30-year lease with AML for use of the dock. According to the agreement, use of the ramp cannot be restricted by AML and must remain open to other users. The new ro-ro has been delivering our local freight since 2020 when the face of the Lutak Dock was closed.
This is an overhead view of the Lutak dock and nearby ro-ro dock. Out of sight to the left is the AMHS ferry dock. As you can see, AML's new ro-ro dock is attached to the land, not to the dock. The heavily reinforced pass-pass is in the central section of the dock. The pass-pass is where forklifts can pass containers or other large items back and forth from dock to barge, so it's redundant to the ro-ro and can move odd-shaped items as well. Delta Western's fuel barge ties up to the fenders along the center of the Lutak dock and pumps fuel up to the tanks on the hill. There are guardrails that prevent heavy equipment from going near the edge of the dock where the sinkholes have historically developed.
Diagram by LCC
Recent view of the Lutak dock
Who are the Lutak Dock's main customers? From 2012-2018, the data shows an average of 69 dockings per year from 2 customers.
CUSTOMER
FREQUENCY
Alaska Marine Lines
Weekly
Delta Western
15-20 times/year
This is just to show who uses the dock (they use different parts of the dock, there are no conflicts). Of course, AML now uses its own ro-ro dock, which is also open to other users.
2. THE BOROUGH IS PURSUING AN ORE DOCK The dock rebuild project is not about meeting local needs. Although many decision-makers and members of the public have firmly believed that it is, records from at least the past 12 years show a more complex story with mining interests as a consistent force behind the scenes.
"THIS IS STRICTLY ABOUT MEETING THE NEEDS OF HAINES RESIDENTS AND HAVING REDUNDANCY FOR THE FREIGHT AND FUEL BARGES THAT DELIVER GOODS FOR HAINES RESIDENTS. IT IS NOT ABOUT MEETING THE NEEDS OF ANY MINING INTERESTS..." — Haines Borough manager Annette Kreitzer (at the April 7, 2022 Planning Commission meeting)
Definitions
HANDYMAX
DEEP WATER PORT
105 ft x 625 ft Require a draft of 35-40 ft
Accommodates very large and heavily loaded ships.
Used for the bulk transport of mineral ores, coal, cement, timber, steel, fertilizer, and grains
Required water depth: 35 feet deep or more
Currently, the Lutak dock is not considered a deep water port and does not serve Handymax ships, which are used to export and transport enormous amounts of raw materials.
Handymax bulk carrier ships are used to transport mineral ores, coal, timber, cement, finished steel, fertilizer, and grains. Handymax is also the design vessel used in the conceptual plans for Skagway's ore terminal, and as you'll see, in past and current designs for the Lutak dock.
Footage from Understory (Wild Confluence Films)
TIMELINE OF HAINES BOROUGH COMMUNICATIONS RE: ORE DOCK 2010:
2012:
2016-2018
Constantine discovers Palmer deposit
Port Development Steering Committee
R&M retained by Haines Borough, presents five dock design options
Discussions begin
Haines Borough Comprehensive Plan
regarding Lutak dock as a deep water port
MOU with Prophesy Platinum
All dock options would allow for ore export via Handymax ship HEDC 2018 Economic
Northern Economics Port Development Report
2020:
2021-2022
Haines Borough applies AML builds new RORO for $20M RAISE grant, dock and the Lutak dock retains R&M and is closed by assembly order Turnagain Marine, begins progressive design-build December weather dock project event shows geohazards in Lutak Inlet 3/24/22 P&H mtg with
Baseline Report
Yukon mining reps brings the topic into the
connects Yukon mines,
public eye.
the Palmer Project, and the Lutak dock
This timeline is just a brief snapshot of the more relevant communications, studies, and reports commissioned by the borough regarding the Lutak dock and its use as an ore transfer facility. The idea of attracting Yukon mines to use the Lutak dock goes back at least a decade. There is ample and compelling evidence to this effect, but for the sake of space, we've included only the most relevant.
2010 Constantine Metal Resources discovers Palmer Deposit
In 2010, two events coincided-- the discovery of the Palmer deposit and the reignition of interest in the Lutak dock as a deepwater port.
Haines Borough commissions an assessment of the Lutak Dock's potential to be developed/expanded into a deep water loading port
MAY 31, 2012 "The Haines Borough recently launched a Haines Port Development Steering Committee. Three residents have since formed the Haines Port Development Council - described as a private-sector cooperative research group - with a similar aim to encourage Yukon Territory mines to ship through Haines." — Chilkat Valley News
This is just one of dozens of CVN articles over the years regarding ore transfer over the Lutak Dock. The two groups mentioned in this 2012 CVN article shared the aim "to encourage Yukon Territory mines to ship through Haines."
SEPTEMBER 2012 Haines Borough 2025 Comprehensive Plan
Also in 2012, the Comprehensive Plan identified the need to ensure that the Haines Highway and its bridges are able to handle ore transport. Since then, the $100 million highway project and $8 million "Palmer Project Bridge" over the Klehini River have been funded and (mostly) completed.