Articles written by j. p. tangen
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What if we had a party, and no one came?
Given the fluidity of the presidential contest, it may not be premature to dust off our hip pocket copy of the U.S. Constitution and worry about what happens if neither of the contenders gets the re... — Updated 2/6/2018
Citizens advisory group bites the dust
It has been a long time since I took high school civics, so it is easy to understand how things may have changed. However, one of its precepts that has served me to this day is the idea that there... — Updated 1/28/2018
Here's a way Alaska can make a few bucks
Recently, an interesting question about AS 38.05.275 came to my attention, and it seems to have implications for a number of holders of federal claims situated within State of Alaska-selected land.... — Updated 1/28/2018
Federal overreach stymied by Scotus
In 1831, 26 year-old French lawyer Alexis de Tocqueville visited the United State [sic] of America for about 10 months and returned to his homeland to write the seminal "Democracy in America"... — Updated 6/19/2016
Miners seek statutory reform of ANILCA
On March 28, 2016, six days after the U. S. Supreme Court rendered its unanimous opinion in the matter of "Sturgeon v. Frost," I offered testimony before the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural... — Updated 4/17/2016
Silence on public lands is deafening
God forbid we should ever be 20 years without such a rebellion. [T]he tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants. - Thomas Jefferson, 1787 For... — Updated 3/20/2016
For miners, tomorrow is another day
I do love metaphors and aphorisms; there's one for every occasion. For instance, it is often noted that, on the one hand, it is always darkest before the dawn and, on the other, that the light at... — Updated 1/24/2016
Which way is the political wind blowing?
I believe that the earth is warming; I believe that the sea level is rising; I believe that climate change is at least partially due to anthropomorphic activities such as burning wood around a... — Updated 11/15/2015
SCOTUS agrees to hear Sturgeon access question
Although not strictly a mining case, John Sturgeon's challenge to the National Park Service's regulation banning private hovercraft on the rivers in the Yukon-Charley Preserve goes to the heart of... — Updated 10/18/2015
My heart echoes the beating of the drums
"Do you hear the people sing? Singing a song of angry men? It is the music of a people who will not be slaves again! When the beating of your heart echoes the beating of the drums There is a life... — Updated 9/20/2015
Never let a serious crisis go to waste
The famous quotation by Rahm Emanuel: "You never let a serious crisis go to waste. And what I mean by that, it's an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before" is entirely fitting... — Updated 8/16/2015
Alaskans ask: Where did I come from?
A brief survey of the history of mankind suggests that most communities were organized around the successful exploitation of nearby natural resources. More "civilized" city-states were able to... — Updated 7/19/2015
Supreme Court reminds us of St. Paul
On May 29, 2015 the Alaska Supreme Court handed down two opinions relating to the Pebble Project: The first reversed the Superior Court's holding in Nunamta Aulukesti, et al, v. State, et al, regard... — Updated 6/21/2015
Solons seek clarity on 'waters of U.S'
After six years of lackluster performance under the leadership of Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., Congress now appears poised to seize the initiative and rein in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's... — Updated 5/17/2015
Environmentalists aren't all watermelons
Environmentalists are often perceived as watermelons (Green on the outside and Red on the inside) by the business community because of their total disregard of the social costs associated with... — Updated 4/19/2015
Rioting in Africa causes climate change
For some time I have been musing about the global warming/climate change conundrum because, as is often the case, the proselytizers are so strident in their conviction. To question their rhetoric... — Updated 3/15/2015
Critical land access unit gets budget ax
The Governor has stripped the state's Public Access Assertion and Defense Unit from the fiscal 2015 budget, potentially jeopardizing several programs critical to resources development in Alaska.... — Updated 2/15/2015
Miners hear review of ANCSA history
The following summary overview of the history of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act was presented at the Alaska Miners Association Convention held in Anchorage earlier this month as part of... — Updated 11/23/2014
EPA revisits its jurisdiction definition
With the Ebola scare and the ISIS incursions dominating the international news and the various races for control of the Senate sucking all of the air out of the room domestically, it is easy to... — Updated 10/26/2014
Now is time to exercise your franchise
All the rhetoric in the world will not be sufficient to mobilize the electorate to get off its collective derrière and fulfill its sacred duty to vote, unless the subject matter strikes a personal... — Updated 9/28/2014
Mount Polley spill could ease Pebble fears
The recent dam breach at the Mount Polley Mine in British Columbia has precipitated a bit of consternation among the Pebble Project watchers on both sides of the issue. Predictably, the naysayers... — Updated 8/31/2014
We cannot hold our breath over Prop One
I have long mused over the difference in how people solve problems. Every time we are confronted with an election, the debate resurfaces. One would suppose that individuals trained in analytical thinking would be inclined to reach conclusions... — Updated 7/27/2014
U.S. mining industry suffers bum rap
I have often mused about why the mining industry is held in such disdain in the United States today. It wasn't always that way. When I was a child, the mining industry was the subject of song and... — Updated 5/25/2014
Spring gathering reflects mood of miners
The Spring Conference of the Alaska Miners Association was held in Fairbanks last week at a new location. The fact that the conference was held in a larger facility and was very well-attended... — Updated 4/27/2014
EPA raiders muddy U.S. Attorney's office
On March 13, 2014, Gov. Parnell released a report of Special Counsel Brent Cole on the federal Criminal Compliance Investigation conducted in the Fortymile mining district between Aug. 19 and Aug.... — Updated 3/30/2014
