I hardly think "the powers that love to mine and dump" in China really give a hoot about a "small copper mine" in Alaska, unless you have a source, say of a Chinese mining co. telling investors their dividend will go down because of a small Alaskan mine.
At least you have dropped that remark that the tailing's area could withstand a direct hit from a 3 or 6 mile asteroid. How do you know cyanide will not be used, what chemicals will be used and 'TREATED " TO RELEASE SAFE WATER?
So what if only 0.5% of creeks are affected, the flow is into the Nusegach which could affect much more than 0.5% of the watershed.
We do not want to be victimized by a mine or our govt, like the Chinese you keep bringing up, a mine here will not save any Chinese people. Their govt has decided to create only electric auto's to reduce pollution, more demand for copper. I think Tesla shares it's battery research with the public, if you really wanted to help the afflicted Chinese people you could work for Tesla.