Blog
Last Friday, as the public comment period on Pebble’s first federal permits opened, Dr. Cameron Wobus presented eye-opening findings from a Pebble Mine tailings dam failure analysis that have commercial fishermen, and many others, concerned about potential impacts of Pebble’s plan.
While this has an obvious impact to fisheries (salmon can’t spawn if their headwaters streams are wiped out), there are less obvious - but extremely severe - risks as well, including metals that will be introduced through mining operations to the waters. Copper is one such metal.
The DEIS says copper will be present at levels above water quality standards for 80 miles (Koktuli to the Mulchatna). That is a major concern. Here’s why:
What’s considered to be the most important document of the permitting project, the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, for the proposed Pebble mine was released last week. In it, the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) fails to consider many pertinent issues and potential impacts from the project, largely ignores the established science regarding the mine, and overlooks many pertinent concerns with Pebble’s proposal.
There are many aspects to be concerned about when it comes to the proposed Pebble mine. Because Bristol Bay’s world-class salmon fisheries are so important to the region, the State of Alaska, and for the global supply of salmon, many of the concerns are related to water and the potential water quality contamination that the mine will generate.
For us Alaskans who do not want to see the proposed Pebble mine move forward in Bristol Bay, there will be many times we’ll need to step up this year to stop the project from advancing. The first of these opportunities is tomorrow. After following this issue for many years, I’ve never before felt a greater sense of urgency for standing up against Pebble.
The Pebble 12% Build is the most recent mine proposal presently being evaluated by the US Army Corps of Engineers in an Environmental Impact Statement.[1] The proposed mine would mine only 12% of the identified mineral resource over the 20-year life of the mine. The smaller, ‘environmentally friendly’ mine proposed by the Pebble Limited Partnership would put all of the acid-generating waste back into the open pit to minimize post-closure water treatment requirements, but perpetual water treatment would still be required.
Monday, Alaska’s Governor-elect Dunleavy appointed some of his new state commissioners. One of particular concern is Jason Brune, appointed Commissioner of Environmental Conservation. Brune, if confirmed by the legislature will be the person in charge whether Pebble will receive numerous key permits.
