| Summary: | Graphite is a critical mineral in pursuing the goal of “decarbonizing the economy” in the U.S. and currently, the U.S. imports 100% of its graphite from other countries. The most significant demand driver for graphite is lithium-ion batteries, which powers carbon-free technologies to reduce global warming. The recent discovery of a substantial, high-grade graphite deposit in Alaska’s Seward Peninsula has triggered the proposal of a large-scale graphite mining project and generated immense government support for local production. It is critical to examine the potential socio-economic and environmental impacts of the proposed mining project on project- zone communities of Nome, Teller, Brevig Mission and Mary’s Igloo. Existing literature reveals the correlation between mining impacts and their spatial extent, species susceptibility, intensity, and public health implications for communities. This study’s methodology includes spatial analysis of 20-year subsistence and sport harvest data of important species from reporting zones or UCUs (Uniform Coding Units) and rivers on Alaska’s Seward Peninsula, to determine critical harvest locations and estimate their degree of overlap with 1-, 5-, and 10-mile buffers of mining impact extent. We evaluated socio-economic impacts through local employment estimates, royalties and tax structures, and compensation to Native organizations and relevant stakeholders. Analysis shows overlap with habitats and migratory routes of important species and Areas of Critical Environmental Concerns (ACEC), as well as economic opportunities for local communities. Estimating cumulative impacts of the proposed large-scale mine is critical for effective resource management planning and policymaking in the Seward Peninsula in the face of “green transition”. Executive Summary / Introduction / Background / Literature Review / Methods / Policy Analysis / Multicriteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) / References / Appendix
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