Minto Mine abandoned, no effect on Skagway say muni officials

By Melinda Munson

Minto Metals Corp., the only company that used the Skagway Ore Terminal, informed the Yukon Government May 12 it was pulling out of Minto Mine. Minto Metals’ entire board resigned and all workers were removed from the site, leaving the territorial government responsible for maintaining environmental safety at the Yukon mine.

According to a Yukon News article, Minto Metals owes $18 million in securities to the Yukon government.

Skagway signed a MOU with the Yukon Government in February, agreeing to a 35-year contract that allows preferred use of a marine services platform (MSP) for the export of mineral concentrates. In exchange, the Yukon Government will fund the construction of the MSP at a cost of approximately $17 million.

Skagway city representatives didn’t appear alarmed by the news of Minto’s demise.

“It doesn’t change the plans for Skagway at all,” said Borough Manager Brad Ryan. “Minto had a small amount of ore that came through here.”

“It’s irrelevant,” said Mayor Andrew Cremata. “Minto had never approached us about using the new facility.”

The ore facility is currently closed and will be dismantled as part of the Ore Dock redevelopment project.

While Minto will no longer be a presence at the ore terminal, “They did leave a bunch of cleanup,” Cremata said, noting contamination in the Ore Basin.

According to Cremata, the municipality never saw “a penny of revenue” from Minto.

Senator Jesee Kiehl will visit Skagway June 9, in part, to tour the Ore Terminal.

“We wanted him to see it. It’s that bad,” Cremata said.

The extent of the contamination is unclear.

‘We’re still assessing. It’s a lot. It’s going to be millions of dollars,” Cremata said.

To reach the Dahl on-duty provider, contact police dispatch at 907-983-2232

By Melinda Munson

My kitchen table is the proverbial canary in the coal mine. It reflects the emotional temperature of the household. If it’s clean with just a plant and a tiny indoor fireplace for roasting marshmallows, the Munsons are okay. If it’s buried in art supplies, winter gloves and various debris, things are a little crazy.

Right now, it’s a lot crazy. The table is so chaotic that items spill onto the floor. There’s the teal curtain that hasn’t been hung for three months, the Instant Pot cookbook I use nightly, random braille notes – and report cards I mean to look at but never will, because I don’t care what grades my

May 8