Game refuge debate should begin soon, says lawmakers

February 8, 2007
News Channel 2 KTUU (AK)
By MIKE ROSS

Anchorage, Alaska - The Pebble Mine project continues to create debate.    

The next round in the fight may take place soon at the state capitol over a proposed game refuge the mining company claims is being used by its enemies to block the project.

The proposal would establish a game refuge in the watersheds that make up the headwaters of Bristol Bay. It would be named after the late governor Jay Hammond, who made his home at Lake Clark and spent a lifetime protecting Alaska habitat.

"I've had a chance to talk with Bella Hammond, (Jay Hammond's) wife. She's been by and we chatted about it and she's sent a letter saying this would be a good idea," said Senate Majority Leader Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak.

But the game reserve would encompass the land Northern Dynasty Mines Inc. wants to use for an open-pit copper and gold mine.

"We know where this bill has comes from. It's come from the campaign that's intended to stop the Pebble project and ensure that it doesn't receive a fair hearing under Alaska law and Alaska permitting processes. So, on that basis, we're concerned about it," said Sean Magee, who is public affairs vice president for Northern Dynasty.

"(The game refuge) is not an attempt to shut down this mine," said Brian Kraft.

Kraft, a fishing lodge owner who is the Southwestern Alaska director of Trout Unlimited and a member of the anti-Pebble Mine group Renewable Resources Coalition, says the mine company would have to prove that it can coexist with the game refuge.

"The company itself that's promoting the mine has said they don't want to do this if it's going to harm fish. Well great. Let's make a fish refuge and put it into law that nothing can be developed if it takes away from the habitat and hurts the fisheries," said Kraft.

State lawmakers say Gov. Hammond's wife does not want to be seen as taking sides in the mine debate.

"That's not her goal here. It's to honor her husband, not to take a whack at Pebble," said Stevens.

And Stevens says lawmakers don't want the game refuge to be viewed as an automatic block of the Pebble Mine.

"But on the other hand, the people I represent in Kodiak, Homer, Seward and Lake Iliamna are all very concerned about what happens to the resource. So this is a way to take a very close look at it," said Stevens.

Stevens says he expects a lot of opposition to the game refuge bill because so many see it as just an end-run against the Pebble Mine.

He also expects legislative debate to begin on the game refuge bill within the next couple of weeks.

Date: 2/8/2007