‹ Minerals

Alaska Pebble Mine proposal faces stiff opposition

April 09, 2012

The Pebble project promoted by Northern Dynasty Minerals (ticker NDM) and Anglo-American (AAUKY-Q) to build North America’s largest open pit mine in prime salmon spawning area is highly controversial.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to release for public comment a draft assessment of the potential impacts of the Pebble Mine on streams, rivers, and other natural resources of the Bristol Bay region that feed the incomparable Bristol Bay wild salmon fishery in southwest Alaska. This assessment is being done in response to petitions from Alaska Native communities in the region and others requesting that EPA step in and proactively stop the proposed Pebble Mine based on the unacceptable adverse effects that the project inevitably and unavoidably would have.

The project would build the largest open pit mine in North America to mine 678 M lbs of copper, 673,000 oz. of gold, and 32 M lbs. of molybdenum over a 45 year period. The project capital cost would be $5B and would employ 2,000 people.

From the website: Top 10 reasons to STOP the PEBBLE MINE:

1. Bristol Bay is home to the world’s largest sockeye salmon run.
2. Pebble mine would generate toxic waste in a seismically active region.
3. A majority of the people of Bristol Bay do not want the mine.
4. Native people live in Bristol Bay, and they subsist off the land.
5. Bristol Bay is home to an abundance of animals that need pristine habitat.
6. Bristol Bay has thousands of rivers and streams that would be degraded.
7. Commercial and sport fishing jobs would be jeopardized.
8. Wild salmon provide us with omega-3 fatty acids.
9. The Pebble Limited Partnership is untrustworthy.
10. Future generations depend on us to protect their most important and lasting legacy—the land.

Commentary

I am not seeing the logic in building the largest open pit mine in North America smack dab in the middle of one of the world’s prime salmon spawning areas.

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