Tom Collier (left) resigned as CEO of the Pebble Partnership after video of discussions about Alaska’s political leaders’ opinions on the Pebble Mine project leaked. Northern Dynasty CEO Ron Thiessen called Collier’s comments “offensive.” (FACEBOOK)
FALLOUT FROM THE ‘PEBBLE TAPES’ CONTROVERSIAL AUDIO RECORDINGS FORCE MINE PARTNERSHIP CEO’S SUDDEN RESIGNATION BY CHRIS COCOLES
A
s it’s gone with many fallen public figures, leaked video or audiotape can abruptly end it all. So is the case with Tom Collier, now a former frontman of the group behind Bristol Bay’s Pebble Mine project. In late September, media outlets released secretly taped videos of Collier discussing the political implications of whether or not the mine’s ongoing permitting process would get approval, creating shockwaves in and out of Alaska. Shortly thereafter, Collier resigned from his leadership post with the Pebble Partnership, which is the face of the group hoping to construct the open-pit copper and gold mine in and around Bristol Bay’s
vast salmon spawning headwaters. In the videos, secretly recorded by a Washington D.C. environmental group and which major media outlets picked up, Collier makes damning statements about his connections with Alaskan political leaders, most notably the state’s Republican senators, Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski. Among Collier’s salvos about Sullivan, who had publicly opposed Pebble Mine’s construction, and Murkowski: “They’re just kind of sitting over in a corner and being quiet. It couldn’t be a better thing for us because these guys, they can’t cause us a problem.” Murkowski and Sullivan both
denounced that and other comments, and on Sept. 24 Sullivan tweeted that, “Given the lies of Pebble’s leadership, I had to set the record straight.” “In my Aug. 24 statement, which I unequivocally stand by, I announced my opposition to Pebble Mine (and) said it should not be permitted (because) it does not meet the high standards we demand for all resource projects in (Alaska). Any suggestion otherwise is a blatant mischaracterization.” In a press release announcing Collier’s letter of resignation, Northern Dynasty President and CEO Ron Thiessen called the former CEO’s comments “offensive.”
aksportingjournal.com | OCTOBER 2020
ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL
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