By THE ALASKA STORY
With silver selling at an all-time high, it was good news for Alaska miners this week. The Greens Creek mine near Juneau has cleared a major federal permitting hurdle ahead of schedule, a move that could extend the life of one of Alaska’s most important economic engines and strengthen the state’s role in supplying critical minerals to the United States.
The Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council announced this week that the Greens Creek Surface Exploration Project has completed federal permitting under the FAST-41 program, nearly a month early and within eight months of being placed on the Federal Permitting Dashboard. The project is sponsored by Hecla Mining Company and led through permitting by the US Forest Service, which manages Admiralty Island where the mine is located.
Greens Creek, situated on Admiralty Island just outside Juneau, is the largest silver mine in the United States and a cornerstone employer and revenue generator for Southeast Alaska. The newly approved five-year surface exploration plan allows Hecla to search for additional deposits of silver, gold, lead, and zinc. If successful, that exploration would expand the mine’s reserve base and help keep the operation running longer—meaning sustained jobs, payroll, and local economic activity for Juneau and the region.
FAST-41, created by Congress to streamline permitting for major infrastructure and resource projects, is designed to improve coordination among federal agencies without eliminating environmental review. According to the Permitting Council, Greens Creek’s inclusion on the FAST-41 Transparency List gave the project a clear permitting timetable, a dedicated project advisor, and active interagency coordination, factors credited with keeping the review on track and ahead of schedule.
Hecla Vice President of Exploration Kurt Allen said the approval recognizes the strategic importance of domestic mineral production. “The FAST-41 process provided a transparent, efficient, and predictable permitting timeline,” Allen said, adding that exploration activities are expected to begin this spring.
Alaska’s congressional delegation highlighted the broader implications for the state and the nation. US Sen. Dan Sullivan said the approval reflects a growing federal focus on Alaska’s mineral potential. “This approval ensures that the largest silver mine in the United States can continue providing economic value to my state in an environmentally responsible manner,” Sullivan said.
Congressman Nick Begich called the decision “great news for Southeast and Alaska’s critical mineral future,” noting that expanded exploration helps keep Alaska central to America’s domestic supply of minerals used in advanced manufacturing, energy technologies, and national defense.
For Alaska, the takeaway is straightforward: faster, more predictable permitting means existing mines like Greens Creek can invest with greater certainty. That investment translates into longer mine life, steady employment, and continued revenue, while reinforcing Alaska’s role as a reliable, domestic source of minerals the country increasingly depends on.
Greens Creek was added to FAST-41 in 2025 following an executive order aimed at increasing American mineral production. With federal approval now complete, Hecla is cleared to move forward, keeping one of Southeast Alaska’s most significant industrial operations positioned for the future.
