Critics of a copper prospect in the Bristol Bay region who fear it could become a smaller version of its giant neighbor, Pebble, have launched an early campaign to stop it.

Once Scott Pruitt was appointed as EPA administrator it was only a matter of time when the agency's lawsuit against the Pebble prospect would get dropped. So when the announcement came two weeks ago that the Trump EPA had settled with Northern Dynasty, I wasn't too surprised. Deeply dismayed, yes. How disappointing that the voice of science is silenced; how profoundly sad that this action in turn muffles the voice of Alaskan Natives, commercial fishermen and local environmentalist and business owners.

As local residents and business owners we are extremely upset about the recent settlement between the Environmental Protection Agency and the Pebble Limited Partnership that began rolling back the proposed Clean Water Act protections for our salmon and jobs in Bristol Bay.

In May, President Trump’s EPA settled the suits, reversing Obama-era efforts to prevent development. Parent company Northern Dynasty Minerals plans to apply for a federal mining permit, a process that will likely take years.

Alaska Seafood is a brand. The people of Alaska own the brand and the state government protects the brand through strict regulation and oversight. Millions of state, federal and private dollars have been invested in the Alaska Seafood brand and thousands of jobs depend on it. When a brand is tarnished, it can take years to recover. Sometimes, the brand is ruined forever.