New test tunnel at Palmer project
The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, the major landowner at the Constantine Metal Resources project near Haines, gave the final approval needed for a new exploration tunnel to be built at the site. The one-mile tunnel, 16 feet in diameter, will allow underground exploration drilling to access parts of the ore body, and also allow work to be done in a weather-protected environment. The project, called Palmer, is about 35 miles north of Haines near a tributary of the Chilkat River.

EPA drops preemptive Pebble ban
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has dropped a preemptive action to ban large scale mining in the Bristol Bay watershed that was initiated by the agency under the former Obama administration. EPA’s Region 10 officials said they have other avenues to review projects such as Pebble, a proposed large copper and gold mine. The action has been expected by both supporters and opponents of Pebble. The project is meanwhile still being reviewed by federal and state agencies The EPA decision followed a meeting between Gov. Mike Dunleavy and President Donald Trump to discuss mining issues among other topics.

Petroleum: Furie in bankruptcy
Furie Operating Alaska, LLC, a Cook Inlet gas producer, along with its parent, Cornucopia Oil and & Gas Company, LLC, and its affiliate, Corsair Oil & Gas LLC, has filed a petition for relief under chapter 11 in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The filing was expected. Furie has been struggling with delays in payments by the state for exploration and development tax credits. The company operates the small Kitchen Lights gas field and supplies gas to Homer Electric Association and Enstar Natural Gas Co.