- 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.
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