Opponents say national park gold mine could threaten endangered whales

• Mining company Contango Silver & Gold plans to build a gold mine on the Johnson Tract, located within Lake Clark National Park in Alaska .
• Opponents and local business owners fear the project could threaten endangered Cook Inlet beluga whales , disrupt brown bear habitats, and cause water pollution.
• Environmental groups and the Chickaloon tribal council have filed a lawsuit against the US Army Corps of Engineers over alleged Clean Water Act violations by granting a permit for the Johnson Tract project.
• Contango plans to minimise its environmental footprint by shipping ore off-site for processing rather than refining it on location.
• Supporters, including local tribal leaders, argue the mine will provide crucial economic self-sufficiency for indigenous communities in the region.

IN FULL

Alaska community split on plan to create a gold mine in the middle of a national park