PROTECTING
WILD ALASKA
FEDS BLOCK PEBBLE MINE PERMIT BY CHRIS COCOLES
T
he roller coaster ride that is the Pebble Mine saga took an exhilarating turn for one side of the fight, and a painful loop-the-loop for another. On Nov. 25, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced it would reject a proposed Bristol Bay gold and copper mine that critics argued could devastate the region’s massive salmon runs. The Corps reversed course after an August release of its Environmental Impact Statement that would have green-lighted a scaled-down mine – provided the Pebble Limited Partnership and parent company Northern Dynasty Minerals came up with a mitigation plan to help prevent damage to Bristol Bay’s vast wetlands. In his agency’s record of decision, Col. Damon Delarosa, Corps of Engineers Alaska district commander, concluded that the mine’s overall scope was not up to federal Clean Water Act standards and the potential threat to the ecosystem. “I have concluded that the benefits of the proposed elimination and alteration of wetlands, streams and other waters within the (Army Corps) jurisdiction do not outweigh the detriments that would be caused by such eliminations and alterations, based upon the information contained in the FEIS, the extensive public comments received, and the analysis of the public interest review factors,” Delarosa wrote at the end of the 29page document. (Find it at pebbleprojecteis.com.) “As those eliminations and alterations would be necessary to realize any benefits from the proposed project, I have found that the proposed project is contrary to the public interest.”
The bedrock underneath Bristol Bay’s vast network of salmon-filled waters is rich in gold and copper deposits, but at least for now a mining permit has been rejected by the President Trump-led U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY)
WELCOME NEWS FOR MINE OPPONENTS From lodge owners to the fishing industry, from Alaskans to out-of-staters, the fight to stop Pebble Mine seemingly is an endless loop of protests. So while the release of a somewhat unfavorable EIS in August was distressing, the permit getting the heave-ho offered a reason to be grateful, and fittingly it came the day before the Thanksgiving holiday. “Good riddance. The opposition to this project from all corners of the political spectrum runs strong and deep. The process has played out, and the science is clear. There is no way this ill-conceived project can coexist with Bristol Bay salmon,” said a blunt Nelli Williams, Alaska director of Trout Unlimited.
Bristol Bay-area lodge owners Nanci Morris Lyon and Brian Kraft depend on salmon, trout and other aquatic delights that attract anglers from around the world. Morris Lyon, whose family operates Bear Trail Lodge, said she was “relieved and thankful” for the news, while Kraft’s reaction reflected the long battle he and others have fought to block the mine. “Thousands of us have looked forward to this day for well over a decade,” said the Alaska Sportsman’s Lodge owner. “Kudos to this administration for seeing this project for what it was – a half-baked and risky proposal that does not belong in the heart of Bristol Bay. This is a good day. We should all celebrate and be thankful today, and get ready to achieve long-term pro-
aksportingjournal.com | DECEMBER 2020
ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL
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