EPA TO CONDUCT RESEARCH ON

NUSHAGAK AND KVICHAK WATERSHEDS

By Aaron Smith

05/20/2011

Bristol Bay, AK – Anglo American and

Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd have been in

collaboration for the past five years in

developing plans for what would be the

largest open-pit copper, gold, and

molybdenum in the world. This proposed

mine would be in Bristol Bay, Alaska;

Alaska residents have raised alarming

questions, including from nine Alaskan

tribal governments, as to how the proposed

mine will affect the pristine environment

the proposed mining site is located within.

Of many concerns, most are being

expressed towards the potential dangers of

toxic agents from the mining process

finding their way into one or many of the

waterways that encompass the land that is

earmarked for mineral extraction. If mining

waste did enter the watershed of the Bristol

Bay area, damage to the community would

be expressed in the possible loss or

diminishment of an existing renewable

resource that has been keeping residents

sustained physically, culturally, and

economically; wild salmon. EPA has been

called upon to assess the risks associated

with not only the development of a mine in

the area but of large-scale development in

general.

To address the concerns of the

people of Alaska and protect the

environment, EPA has agreed to conduct an

Environmental Assessment (abbreviated EA)

of the Bristol Bay Watershed (Holsman). The

purpose of this EA is to bring clarity to the

understanding of how future large-scale

development, the Pebble prospect being a

good example, could affect water quality

and the fishery of Bristol Bay at large. This

assessment will focus on two areas – the

Kvichak and Nushagak watersheds. Both of

these rivers could be adversely impacted by

large-scale industrial development in the

region. EPA was originally requested by the

Alaskan people to enact its statutory

authority under section 404(c) of the Clean

Water Act (CWA), which authorizes EPA to

veto “…the discharge of such materials into

such area [that] will have an unacceptable

adverse effect on municipal water supplies,

shellfish beds and fishery areas (including

spawning and breeding areas), wildlife, or

recreational areas.” (EPA 11/27/2002) EPA

concluded that proceeding to a veto

process before looking at all facets of the

issue would not be conducive to a well

documented, fact-based course of action on

their behalf. The exercise of 404(c)

authority usually is subsequent to an EA, if

not to an EIS (Environmental Impact

statement), which comes after an EA to

determine if factors that would disturb an

environment can be mitigated. The decision

to conduct an EA as an initial step in the

process of protecting the resources of

Bristol Bay is reflected in this statement by

our own EPA Regional Administrator,

Dennis McLerran:

“The Bristol Bay watershed is essential to

the health, environment and economy of

Alaska. Gathering data and getting public

input now, before development occurs, just

makes sense. Doing this we can be assured

that our future decisions are grounded in

the best science and information and in

touch with the needs of these communities.

We look forward to working with Alaskans

to protect and preserve this valuable

resource.” (Holsman)

Three main questions will be the

driving force in the scientific assessment of

the Bristol Bay Watershed. These questions

will be kept in mind throughout the

assessment, in listening to community

members and reviewing existing studies,

and upon drawing conclusions on our

findings. We believe there will be hundreds

of questions about the Bristol Bay area that

will be answered in the process of our

research, but the overarching ones we will

explain.

Is the Bristol Bay salmon

fishery the one of a kind,

world class fishery that it is

depicted to be (EPA*

)?

From the information about the Bristol

Bay fishery that has been brought to the

attention of EPA in light of this issue, we

are comfortable saying that Bristol Bay is an

important fishery for the United States. This

determination is based on the high

sustainability of the fishery due to the

salmonid stock complex of the area. Stock

complex is a term for the total number of

separate spawning populations of a fish. In

the case of the salmon in Bristol Bay, that

number is known to be at least several

hundred stock populations of unique

bioidentity throughout the watershed

(Hilborn et al, 2003). The result of this high

stock complex is an elevated level of

genetic diversity throughout the

populations. This biocomplexity in the

salmon population allows for, much like

human populations, different strains to

increase or decrease in population in

response to varying climatic and

environmental variables. So, while one

particular year may not be optimal for one

population of salmon, it doesn‟t necessarily

mean ill for the next – times hundreds of

spawning populations across the

watershed. Thus, the fishery of Bristol Bay

can be said to be „sustainable‟. Whether it

is a one of a kind, world class fishery is yet

to be determined by the cumulative

research collected through the upcoming

assessment process. It is promising,

though, that a thorough ERA

(Environmental Risk Assessment)

completed October 2010 for The Nature

Conservancy, contained cited research that

are including Bristol Bay “supports the

largest runs of sockeye salmon on earth.”

((Ruggerone et al. 2010) Ecology and

Environment, Inc., 2010. Pg 19)

What are the potential impacts

to Bristol Bay’s salmon fishery

from large‐scale development

activities such as hard rock

mining (EPA*)?

There are an incalculable number of varying

impacts to the environment when it comes

to large-scale development. It cannot be

determined what each and every such

impact would be to the Bristol Bay area in

particular as there is no way to estimate

those impacts without precedent or fact-

based research. In relation to the

generalized dangers associated with hard

rock mining, though, there have been some

key areas of impact that have been

identified from other mining sites around

the world (some in Alaska). Let it be known

that the Pebble Partnership has not

released an MMP (Mine Management

Plan)(Ecology and Environment, Inc., 2010.

Pg 14). An MMP is a document generated

by a mining company prior to beginning a

project that describes the mining activities

that are to be done at a site, explains the

management system for environmental

concerns related to mine operation, and is

informative of all mine workings from

commencement to closure procedures.

Without this document, it is not possible to

truly assess the potential risks associated

with the imposition of the Pebble prospect

on the Nushagak and Kvichak watersheds.

The listed impacts have resulted from

mining projects that are similar in nature to

the Pebble prospect. EPA is listing these

solely to address the question of what

potential impacts could be, not to imply

that they may occur. These potential

impacts are indicated as stressors on the

environment and are sourced directly from

the Ecology and Environment, Inc. ERA

done for The Nature Conservancy.

Physical Stressors: these have had a

documentable, physical effect on the

affected waters.

Dewatering and Loss of Instream

Flow

o Most mines use water from the

streams/rivers around it during

the process of mineral

production. This decreases the

amount of water within as well

as the fps (feet per second)

that the stream/river moves at.

Both of these factors have been

shown to be instrumental to

successful spawning in breeds

of fish that spawn in the

streams/rivers of the Nushagak

and Kvichak watershed.

Loss or Alteration of Supporting

Habitat

o Any area containing salmon

habitat that is changed due to

development of a mine is

subject to no longer be a

sustainable habitat for those

populations. For example, if

the Pebble Prospect was

commenced, there would be a

road built that would connect

the mine to a port. On the way

to the port, this road would

cross over 89 streams; 14 of

these streams would need a

culvert installed to be passable

PICTURE. Salmon may be

unlikely to run upstream

through a culvert and similarly

young salmon may be unlikely

to pay through it on the way to

sea. This alteration of habitat

could decrease the genetic

diversity of Bristol Bay‟s stock

complex. (pg 108)

Chemical Stressors: these have changed

the chemical composition of affected water

Fugitive Dust

o Dust from mining operation is

common. Dust that may come

from the Pebble mine could

contain heavy metals such as

copper, or chemicals that could

change the composition of the

water in streams/rivers as far

as the dust could reach. The

effects of such dust would

depend on weather conditions,

fps of streams/rivers, dust

composition, as well as many

other factors. The metal or

chemicals in the dust could

result in bioaccumulation in

plants and animals that are all

part of the interlinked

ecosystem of Bristol Bay. The

effects of that bioaccumulation

could interrupt the salmon

spawning process and/or kill

fish, permanently increase

heavy metal content of soils,

alter the plant life biodiversity

around the mine area and

beyond, and possibly be a

health risk to humans.

Pipeline Spills

o Alongside the proposed road

for the Pebble prospect would

be two pipelines that would

carry ore „slurry‟ from the

mine. These would travel a

course of 104 miles with slurry

moving through them at about

40/mph. It is common in

mining operations for these

types of pipelines to rupture

and spill their contents

(moving 40/mph) into the

environment. Considering that

the pipelines would cross 89

streams; 89 chances to

instantaneously disrupt the

environment, 14 of which are

known streams to hold salmon

species.

Episodic and Large Scale Pollution

Events

o This type of stressor is

categorized as a structural

failure of a dam holding

tailings and waste water from

the mining process, of which

there would be billions of tons

of tailings and hundreds of

billions of gallons of

contaminated water, from

causes such as: engineering

miscalculations, earthquakes

(the Pebble prospect and

proposed dams are in a

geologically active area), flood

from precipitation/high runoff,

etc. Should a proposed dam

break, it would cause

deleterious environmental

effects to not only the

surrounding streams but the

entire watershed and possibly

Bristol Bay itself. Cleanup of

such an event could take

decades. Fish populations

could be easily decimated with

low likelihood for return.

Chemical Spills

o The chemicals used to process

minerals at mining sites have

to be transported to the mine.

Possible spills during

transportation of these

chemicals could have a direct

or indirect effect on salmon

habitat in the case of the

Nushagak and Kvichak

watershed. If a spill were to

occur, large machinery would

have to be brought in to clean

up, which could result in

further deterioration of the

environment.

Acid Mine Drainage

o AMD (Acid Mine Drainage)

results from the oxidization of

metal sulfide, such as pyrite,

from exposure to air and

water. Chalcopyrite, a form of

pyrite, is the ore rock that

copper is mined from. Mining

chalcopyrite has been shown in

other mines in the US to cause

AMD. Considering that most

mines are below the water

table, defunct copper mines

are at a great risk factor for

AMD. Also AMD can come from

waste rock piles, leach out of

tailing dams, and come from

spills. AMD in Bristol Bay could

seriously affect the water

quality.

Are there technologies or practices

that will mitigate these impacts

(EPA*)?

The impacts that have been listed are

ones that are associated with other

mines. EPA is just beginning the

process of researching the possible

effects of these and other impacts in the

Nushagak and Kvichak watersheds.

Mitigation for the impacts listed could

be addressed by the MMP that will be

submitted by the Pebble Partnership

before their permitting process for

mining operations. The EA that will be

conducted through the next few months

will answer these questions as well.

Federal regulation of impacts that an

establishment has on its environment is

strictly monitored and all parties

concerned with the protection of the

Nushagak and Kvichak watersheds

should be assured that upon any

development that those policies will be

observed.

Upon EA completion EPA will be

conducting two sets of meetings. The

first set of meetings will be held

sometime between August 2010 and

November 2010, depending on the

availability of participants. This set of

meetings will be to present the

preliminary findings of the EA and to

gather public input on the first two goal

questions of our assessment. The

second set of meetings will be held

between November 2010 and January

2010, again dependent on participant

availability. This second set of meetings

is intended to address the third

question: Are there technologies or

practices that will mitigate these

impacts? These meetings will be

conducted after peer-review of the EA

and will serve to determine what action

is required to protect the watersheds of

the Nushagak and Kvichak Rivers (EPA:

Region 10)

Additional Reading

Holsman, Marianne. (02/07/2011) EPA

plans scientific assessment of Bristol Bay

watershed. Retrieved from

http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf

/0/8C1E5DD5D170AD99852578300067D3

B3

Hilborn, Ray, Quinn, T., Schindler D.E.,

Rogers D.E. (2003) Biocomplexity and

fisheries sustainability. Retrieved from

http://www.pnas.org/content/100/11/656

4.long

EPA*: EPA (May 21st

, 2011) Bristol Bay: What

is EPA Studying and Why? Retrieved from

http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/ECOCOMM.N

SF/bristol+bay/summary

Ecology and Environment, Inc. (2010) an

Assessment of Ecological Risk to Wild

Salmon Systems from Large-scale Mining in

the Nushagak and Kvichak Watersheds of

the Bristol Bay Basin. Retrieved from

http://ourbristolbay.com/pdf/TNC-Pebble-

Ecological-Risk-Assessment.pdf

EPA (02/07/2011) Outline for the

Development of EPA’s Bristol Bay

Watershed Assessment. Retrieved from

http://www.epa.gov/region10/pdf/bristolb

ay/outline_bristol_bay_watershed_assessme

nt.pdf

A Blueprint for Economic Resurgence: Bristol

Bay

and the Pebble Mine Proposal by Isaac Thome

In 2007 Northern Dynasty and Anglo American,

to create beneficial mine for the Alaskan people

and their economy, created the Pebble

Partnership. The mine in planned to be on the

Pebble property, which is said to be “the

world‟s most extensive mineralized system.”

(U.S. Geological Survey) The mineralized system

is comprised of 186 miles of untapped

resource to be explored. The Pebble

Partnership has been exploring those

resources.

The economy of Bristol Bay is heavily reliant on

seasonal work; the Pebble mine will provide

stability and new jobs. While the salmon trade

has done great things for the Bristol

community, it has not always proven to be

consistent. Which leads us to a question: why

should an entire community put their livelihood

on an industry that is prone to fluctuating

cycles and variables? Not only is the harvest of

fish taken into account but also the varying

prices dependent on the harvest, as well as

sockeye returns; all of which have been at

historical lows lately. This community indeed

works hard at their trade and it evident that

they are highly skilled yet nonetheless they

remain susceptible to downward trends.

Harvests were especially strong in eighties and

nineties, peaking in price at $3.15 a pound in

1989. Harvests of more than 45 million fish

anually in the early 1990‟s showed promise for

the stability of the industry. But these trends

only gave way to new historical lows, with

Bristol fish only yielding $0.40 a pound by

2002.

Salmon returns for commercial fishing is

also, as mentioned before, dependent on the

variable of sockeye returns. In fact, Kvichak

River provides the largest sockeye salmon

resource in the world, perhaps. Yet sockeye

returns dramatically vary, and are known to

produce in varying cycles. The returns have

been noticeably weaker in recent years. The

Alaska Department of Fish and Game, as well as

the Alaska Board of Fisheries, has referred to

the decline by classifying it as a “stock of

management concern”.

Our hope at Northern Dynasty and

Anglo American is not only to run a successful

mine but to ease the strain of a faltering

economy. To assist a community that, as of

March 2011, had a massive unemployment rate

of a whopping 10.3%. A project such as our

proposed Pebble mine will require the strength

of a community workforce; upwards of 2,000

workers during the construction phase and a

constant 1,000 more thereafter. Skilled jobs

can pay up $60,000 a year, and there are more

than enough to provide employment

opportunity for every one of the 1,200 plus

inhabitants within this Alaskan borough.

For the mining of the Pebble area we will

apply our traditional mining techniques. This

means responsible resource development and

high standards. For the 50-80 year lifetime of

the mine we will exercise only environmentally

sound and socially responsible operation

methods. That is, not only fitting by U.S.

regulation, but maintaining the beautiful

landscape for the Alaskan people and visitors.

The proposal development of the Pebble

mine has not come without extensive research

and consultation and reputable banks of local

knowledge. Our company standards require

thorough project planning. The Pebble

Partnership has

been gathering data in regards to the technical

and environmental aspects needed for a

successful mine in the Bristol Bay area since

2001. The research consists of the

collaborative efforts of 20 senior engineers

along with technical specialists, in addition to

the 58 engineering firms globally. We are

conducting studies supplemented by public

input led by the Keystone Center, a non-profit

organization that specializes on serving the

interest of all stakeholders without bias. We are

also going through the various options in which

to model the Pebble deposit, whether it is an

open pit mine, high volume underground

mining, or a variation on the two. Also taken

into account is the planning for transportation

and infrastructure, including pipelines, access

roads, and fuel systems. All of this, of course,

will be determined in accordance with

environmental standards. The development of

the Pebble mine is supported and driven by one

of the most expansive environmental studies

conducted to date in Alaskan history, with over

$130 million in funding. Northern Dynasty and

Anglo American have socially responsible

development in the forefront of all our plans

The development of a mine such as the

one we are proposing in Bristol Bay cannot be

conducted without the right experience and

manpower; as an organization we have the

right people for the job. Those involved in the

management of the Pebble Partnership are

exceedingly attentive and qualified, with

underlying experience. As a whole, our

management has well over 100 years of mineral

development experience combined. This

mastery of the mining craft covers all sectors

including development, forestry,

transportation, energy, sustainability, corporate

management, and mine operations. We wish to

emphasize our attention to detail and

qualifications that will allow not only us, but

also the people of Bristol Bay to succeed. A

common misconception is that as a junior

mining company based outside of the United

States, we only are looking for what directly

benefits us. But upon further examination the

public will see that we not only prepared to

stabilized the economy of Bristol Bay;

revitalization is the goal.

Stability is a key word that should be

appreciated in relation to any economic

climate. Northern Dynasty and Anglo American

have done their homework on the storied

salmon trade; mining offers more than

seasonal work which is not dependent on the

trending factors previously mentioned in

relation to the salmon trade. This project is

long term and we have no plans of abandoning

our work force in a short time period.

Enough about logistics; what do you

stand to gain? We can start by telling you what

you stand to lose if we as a partnership were to

not go through with this development: 55

billion pounds of copper, 66.9 million ounces

of gold, and 3.3 billion pounds of

molybdenum. The U.S. Geological Survey has

determined the deposit at Pebble to be “the

world‟s most extensively mineralized system”.

A recent independent resource estimate by the

NW Corporation found it to be not only, “the

largest gold deposit” but also “the second

largest copper deposit” in North America.

Traditional industry may be difficult to part

with, but there is too much on the line here to

be simply brushed off. To put it lightly, it would

be a definite mistake from the perspective of

economic benefit on the part of Bristol Bay to

pass up Pebble.

How do we plan to enrich the Bristol Bay

community? Besides stable jobs for Alaskans,

we are offering significant annual payments to

state and local governments, supply and

service contracts, spin-off benefits for local

communities, hundreds of millions of dollars in

annual operating expenditures. All of these

benefits are being flown under the flag of

soundly researched, well-funded capital

investment estimated between 4 to 5 billion

dollars. Now is clearly the time to join the

Dynasty, for we all stand to gain so much, to

make the unattainable, attainable admits these

dark economic times.

Additional Reading

"Fact Sheet ." northerndynastyminerals.com.

The Pebble Partnership, n.d. Web. 26 Apr.

2011.

Bacsujlaky, Mara. "Sorting through the Pebble

hype:." northerndynastyminerals.com. N.p., 1

Sept. 2004. Web. 27 Apr. 2011.

"Convergence of Opinion About Pebble Mine."

renewableresourcescoalition.org. Renewable

Resources Coalition, n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2011.

Heinrich, Austin. "Pebble Gold Mine:

Alaska's Next Gold Rush?."

fliesandfins.com. N.p., 28 Mar. 2008. Web.

28 Apr. 2011.

Drew, Lisa W. "Prospect of Mine Near a Salmon

Fishery Stirs Worry in Alaska." The New York

Times. nytimes.com, 26 Apr. 2005. Web. 1 May

2011.

"Investors Oppose Pebble Mine, Call for Clean

Water Review." http://www.ens-newswire.com.

N.p., 13 Apr. 2011. Web. 15 May 2011.

Kean, Sam. "Fishing for Gold in The Last

Frontier State." 15 Jan. 2010: 263-265. Science

Magazine. Web. 15 May 2011.

One of the Worlds Greatest Areas;

Now Looms on a Threatening

Proposal by Teal Sigler

I grew up as member in a family who, for

generations, have enjoyed the sport and

pastime of fishing. My father and grandfather

are considered to be two of the best salt-water

fly fisherman in the world. I grew up as a native

of Vashon Island, WA, which is located in the

Puget Sound just south of Seattle, WA. For as

long as I can remember, every summer on

Fourth of July morning I would hop in a boat

with my dad and grandfather. We would

venture out into the Sound and fish for large

salmon to bring back to cook for the Fourth of

July. As I have gotten older I have noticed the

depletion in the number of salmon where I live.

It makes you realize that something which has

always been a ritual in your life may no longer

be there one day.

This leads me into the main issue at

hand. Bristol Bay, AK is home to the world's

largest sockeye salmon fisheries, as well as

strong runs of chum, silver, and king salmon.

One can reasonably say Alaska is America‟s big,

back yard for salmon runs of huge quantities.

These runs, however, are under potential threat

due to a proposed open pit mine. The mine in

question has been dubbed as the Bristol Bay

Pebble Mine.

Bristol Bay not only supports the largest

runs of wild salmon on the planet, but also

trophy-quality rainbow trout, grizzlies, caribou,

and many other forms of wildlife; a strong

commercial and sport-fishing economy based

on the salmon that are prolific there is like a

cherry on top of an already massive sundae.

The Nushagak and Mulchatna Rivers support

other species such as Arctic Char, arctic

grayling, lake trout, dolly varden, northern pike

and whitefish.

“Most of the rock

that would be removed

from the pit mine will be

waste…”

Sadly, all of this is now being

threatened by the companies Northern Dynasty

and Anglo American, “neither of which are

American-owned companies”. These two

companies are looking to partner together to

create what would be the largest destruction of

natural habitat and species of fish yet known.

Working in tandem, the State of Alaska and

Canadian mining companies want to create

what would become North America‟s largest

open pit porphyry copper, gold, and

molybdenum mine. Where is the proposal site

for the mine? The headwaters of Bristol Bay that

above Lake Iliamna is the chosen ground –

these headwaters are sandwiched between two

large national parks, Katmai and Lake Clark.

Most of the rock that would be removed from

the pit mine will be waste; to be a little more

specific, close to 2.5 billion tons of waste rock.

The main issue is that the waste rock material,

along with discharge chemicals, would be

stored (forever) in two artificial lakes behind

massive earthen dams. The largest of the dams

containing these lakes would be 740 feet

(230 m) tall and 4.3 miles (6.9 km) long. The

potential threat of toxic pollution to the

watershed, which then could seep into the

many lakes, rivers and national parks, and

preserves in the area that are home to some of

the world‟s greatest fishing habitats is

abominable. If the salmon vacate the area it

won‟t be long before the jobs, sustainable

living, subsistence lifestyle, and economy of

Bristol Bay go out with the tide.

Sport fishing, along with commercial

fishing, tourism and hunting

Highland Valley Copper Mine seen above as

an example of what the BristolBay area could

look like

are key components of the local and

state economies in Alaska. Recreation and

tourism spending in Bristol Bay brings in $90

million annually in the form of taxes, fishing

fees, and licenses. Sport fishing accounts for

roughly $60 million of that spending, with

nonresidents and high-end lodge clients

contributing the most. In 2007, anglers fishing

in Alaska spent nearly $1.4 billion on fishing

trips, fishing equipment, and development and

maintenance of land used primarily for

the pursuit of sport fishing in Alaska.

Resident spending was $733 million and

nonresident spending was $652 million.

15,879 full and part-time jobs were

supported by money spent on sport

fishing in 2007 and accounted for $545

million in total wages and benefits paid

to employees and proprietors. In total,

an estimated 37,000 fishing trips are taken

annually to Bristol Bay freshwater fisheries.

Tourists from outside of Alaska comprised

about one-third of those trips. These losses

could be a drastic loss to Alaska as a whole not

just the Bristol Bay area.

People come from all over the world to

fish in the paradise that the Bristol Bay area has

to offer. It is one of the only untouched

watersheds still out there today in the world,

for this reason the salmon population is full

force. Anglers and people from all over the

world come to experience this wonder. "UK

anglers see Alaska as the great untouched

wilderness and to many it is a „once in a

lifetime' dream to fish its pristine waters," said

Peter Cockwill of Albury Game Angling in

Surrey. He has been guiding people in Alaska

towards life-changing fishing experiences for

about 21 years. "Some achieve the dream that

others possibly never will. But destroy Bristol

Bay, and the dream no longer exists. Why take

the risk, however small, of ruining nature's

perfection in the quest of short term personal

gain for a very few?"

For these very reasons we, as people of

Alaska and, on an even greater picture, we as

citizens of the United States, need to stand up

and recognize the horrid and scary

complications that could arise from a realized

mine in Bristol Bay, AK. As an avid fisherman I

want to be able to one day get up at a way-too-

early hour in the morning, hop in my boat and

take my kids out on Fourth of July morning and

catch a nice, fat, and healthy wild salmon. This

proposed mine could kill this dream of mine

along with many other peoples. We need to

stand up right now and stop this proposed

mine. It is a threat to commercial and sports

fishing alike. Luckily I do not stand alone in my

conviction.

Nearly 200 leading companies in the fly

fishing industry, including Albury Game

Angling, Farlow's, and outdoor gear icons such

as Orvis and Patagonia, have rallied to help

protect the Bristol Bay salmon habitat from

destructive. They have voiced their concerns

publicly with ads like the one on the following

page designed by the Sportsman's Alliance for

Alaska.

The local sport fishing industry in

Bristol Bay has around 40 commercial fishing

lodges on the rivers connected to the Bristol

Bay area. The lodges offer many different types

of experiences from rustic-style wilderness

exploration to world-class luxury tours. Almost

all of them have taken up strong opposition to

the proposed Pebble Mine. A reflection of that

opposition can be seen in this statement from

Sportsman‟s Alliance:

“…This region is the

Serengeti of Alaska…”

"There has never been a successful re-

creation of wild salmon runs once they have

been decimated, making the potential risks and

uncertainties of Pebble too great," said Brian

Kraft, owner of Alaska Sportsman's Lodge and

two other Bristol Bay fishing lodges. "This

region is the Serengeti of Alaska. Here, snow

fed streams flow crystal clear from the

mountains, through rolling tundra and to the

sea. Anglers from around the world see this as

the pinnacle of fishing opportunities. There are

not many, if any, places like this left in the

world."

Is there any clearer answer than a big NO

for the question of whether or not building a

mine in Bristol Bay is sensible? It‟s time to

stand up and use all of our voices, efforts, and

resources to protect an area of the world that

makes the world a truly beautiful place with its

natural radiance and outstanding supply of

sports fishing joy: Bristol Bay, Alaska. Don‟t

just say no to the Pebble Mine. Take the voice

of the locals into account – one, two,

three…Hell No!

The Facts don’t lie!

The people in Bristol Bay, AK know

that their home is also home to the

world‟s largest Sockeye salmon fishery; it

has been for generations. The people

pride themselves on what they know of

incorporating this abundance of salmon

species into their everyday lives. For

thousands of years, these people have

utilized the rich subsistence wildlife

resources in the area to provide for their

families and sustain their economy.

They rely heavily on these resources and,

if there is any interruption to the supply

of these resources, the Alaska people will

start to feel the effects immediately.

20% of the annual diet in Bristol Bay

consists of subsistence foods. This 20%

comes to a total of over 265,000 pounds

of subsistence food utilized each year.

The average subsistence fish

consumption for Bristol Bay residents‟

accounts for 55 percent of all

subsistence foods utilized. (Animal

welfare Institute)

However, salmon is just one

subsistence resource for local residents.

Others include moose, caribou, bear, and

smaller terrestrial animals such as fox

and beaver. The major industries in

Bristol Bay include a combination of

commercial fishing, sport fishing, and

hunting. This mixture of nature-based

industry in Bristol Bay makes the area

stand out as a wildlife haven which

happens to draw almost 2 million

tourists a year. Alaska natives embrace

their culture by contributing to a

peaceful environment maintaining the

pristine ecosystem that brings in the

abundance of salmon species in the local

watershed. Lately, though, there has

been a burdening situation that many

Alaska natives are facing. Currently in

the

exploration phase, Northern

Dynasty Minerals (a Canadian mining

company based out of Vancouver) plans

to create the biggest open pit mine in

North America, as well as the largest

dam in the world. Guess where? There

plans start right in the heart of the

Bristol Bay watershed headwaters. The

idea of the Pebble mine has been in the

making since it was first presented in

2001 by the Canadian company Northern

Dynasty Minerals.

According to Alaska Trekking,

Metal ores are common throughout the

Bristol Bay region because of volcanic

history. The ores have been around for a

long time, but the isolated location and

poor quality of the ore has prevented any

kind of serious development. During the

past few years metal prices have doubled

and then tripled; development of these

ores is suddenly worthwhile. Mining

companies around the world are setting

their sights on Southwest Alaska as the

new frontier of mineral harvest.

Open pit mining refers to the

extraction of minerals close to the

surface of the earth through an open pit

(Animal welfare Institute). The Northern

Dynasties proposal includes the building

of an underground mine, the removal of

massive amounts of water from Upper

Talarik Creek and the Koktuli River (both

important fish habitats), and the

construction of the world's largest dams

to hold all of the subsequent waste. Less

than one percent of the extracted

material resulting from this destruction

will hold any value in the form of copper,

gold, or molybdenum. What the

industries fail to see are the ecological

damages that a mine could cause in this

area. Due to the fact that the site is so

remote, just providing power and access

to the proposed mining area could have

incalculable negative ecological effects.

Bristol Bay is well known for

possessing the largest salmon runs in

the world. It is also known for the

rainbow trout, grizzly bears, moose,

caribou, rare migrating birds, and one of

only two colonies of freshwater seals in

the world. For Alaska‟s wildlife to thrive,

their habitat must be left in its current

pristine state. The proposed Pebble mine

would involve removing water from the

rivers which would disrupt their

ecological integrity and destroy habitats

of Bristol Bay wildlife. It could even prove

to be harmful to the ecological system in

its entirety. Copper alone is one of the

most toxic heavy metals to fish and it

can limit the production of algae, an

essential food source for a huge majority

of the water dwelling species in the area.

Even a small impact would affect other

species higher up the on food chain.

Very small amounts of copper can

destroy a salmon's olfactory sense, which

can leave a fish seriously disoriented

because of the role that sense has in

navigating streams and distinguishing

predators from prey. To put it simply:

copper has a toxic affect on salmon

which makes them stupid. They lose

their sense of direction and purpose; for

the people of Bristol Bay, salmon getting

confused and forgetting to run upstream

would pose a huge problem. Salmon

return to their stream of birth when it‟s

time for them to spawn. Damage to their

habitat or birthplace will leave the rivers,

and Bristol Bay, up a creek without a

paddle.

Even if precautions are taken, it is

inevitable that some fine materials such

as dust and dirt will wash into the

waterways and begin to accumulate,

introducing toxins and degrading the

water quality. The Environmental

Protection Agency has found that mining

activities have polluted over 40 percent

of the headwaters in the Western United

States alone. Ultimately, the placement

of this pebble mine poses a serious

threat to the wildlife and people of

Bristol Bay. If the Pebble Mine project

moves forward, the door would be

opened for similarly destructive mining

projects in Bristol Bay. This outcome

would not only threaten Alaska's wildlife

and its untouched landscape, but it

would also contribute to the rapid

disappearance of true wilderness in the

United States.

Additional Reading

"Open Pit Mining: The Growing Threat to

Alaska's Bristol Bay Ecosystem." Animal

Welfare Institute. Animal Welfare

Publications. Web. 18 May 2011.

<http://www.awionline.org/ht/d/ContentDe

tails/i/2042/pid/2494>.

"Pebble Mine Statistics." Alaska Trekking.

Alaska Trekking | Ground Truth Trekking,

11 Feb. 2011. Web. 18 May 2011.

http://www.aktrekking.com/pebble/facts.ht

ml

Bristol Bay, Alaska is home to the

largest sockeye salmon fishery in the

world. The waters of Bristol Bay are pure

and untouched by human intervention.

This pristine land is facing a dilemma: the

proposed development of an open pit

mine that if not kept in check would rival

with the beauty of the nature that would

surround it! If created, this mine could

potentially create long-term

environmental, social, and economic risks

to the indigenous peoples of Bristol Bay,

Alaska (Kelty). The main issue is that the

proposal to start this major mine, that

would provide other foreign markets with

copper, gold, and molybdenum, is on state

land, and dangerously close to an

abundant sockeye salmon habitat. While

popular media is broadcasting

consideration of the Alaskan people and

their home, we need to understand that

Alaskans in the Bristol Bay area rely on

subsistence. The sockeye salmon fishery is

not just revenue or food, but a complete

way of living with the land.

Bristol Bay, AK is one of the last, not to

mention the largest, sustainable salmon

fisheries in the world. This land is very

crucial to the local indigenous peoples;

Yupik Eskimo‟s, Denaina, Athabascans,

Aleuts and Alutiiqs have lived in the area

for thousands of years and depend on the

Bay‟s renewable resources for subsistence,

lifestyle, and commercial uses. When

asked about the salmon habitats that have

been a part of his life since childhood, Luki

Akelkok, Sr., a 72-year-old Yupik patriarch,

laments, “Once that‟s gone (referring to

the region‟s biological vitality) you can‟t

get it back” (Dobb). The Yupik have always

relied heavily on the land. Subsistence is

the only way of life known inside the walls

of their villages. The contents of their

watery pantry are not only sockeye salmon

but also Coho, chum, pink, and king

salmon. These fish are the major

subsistence resources in the Bristol Bay

area (and most of Alaska) and makes up

most of the diet of Alaskan peoples.

However, there are many ways to improve

this industry, and many more ways for the

natives of Bristol Bay to bring their way of

life to light in relation to their concerns

about the potentially damaging effects of a

open pit mine in their back yard. The

potential impacts of the Pebble project on

subsistence resources, including wildlife

and drinking water resources are not taken

lightly in an area of such delicate balance

as Bristol Bay. The potential socioeconomic

impacts on the local indigenous

population, such as job opportunities and

revenue issues, are all hazardous (Dobb).

The largest fear is that the mine would

destroy the salmon returns by polluting

the water. The Pebble Partnership insists

that the mine would create many jobs for

the Alaskan people and that the waters will

not be polluted. Even if this is true, how

many Alaskan people will they hire and

how will it be more beneficial to them than

the commercial fishing industry that

already thrives in the area? Many natives

do not have the training to work in a mine

or never have before; would they even find

such job opportunities appealing after

fishing for so many years? Although

fishing can be dangerous, working in a

mine is also dangerous. Which occupation

comes with more health related hazards?

These are questions Bristol Bay natives are

indubitably thinking about when

discussing the proposed mine with each

other and others.

The proposal of a open pit mineral

mine in Bristol Bay, AK started catching

speed in 1986 when the two mining

companies, Northern Dynasty (British

Columbia) and Anglo American (England),

teamed up as The Pebble Partnership.

They began to discover a cache of

minerals in what today is expected to be

the largest copper mine, and second

largest gold mine deposits in North

America; most likely one of the largest in

the world. (Anchorage Daily News, 2008) It

seems as though The Pebble Partnership

understands the risks associated with such

a project and, for this reason, they

guarantee they will meet the concerns of

the people in doing justice by protecting

the pristine natural environment

surrounding the proposed mining site.

Despite promises of a clean project by

officials, the accident-plagued history of

hard rock mining in conjunction with the

proposal of a mine at the headwaters of

one of the largest remaining sockeyes

salmon runs in the world has brought on

one of the biggest land use battles Alaska

has ever faced. The growing

unrest among native, commercial,

and sport-fishermen can be likened to an

incoming tide. (UFVA)

Alaska and the Alaskan people have

a right to a safe, healthy, productive, and

sustainable environment for all who live

within and from it. The word environment,

in this case, encapsulates everything a

Bristol Bay residence can take in by turning

about: land, water, plants, animals, air,

and of course, the salmon. Likewise, the

proposal of an open pit mine that could

affect the people of Bristol Bay in an

irreversible way comes at the from a

variety of perspectives: ecological,

biological, natural, social, political,

cultural, environmental, moral, economic,

and ethical. Environmental justice should

be exercised, so that groups and

individuals are preserved, and respected in

a way that provides for community

empowerment. Indigenous communities

should have an understood involvement in

the permitting process for the Pebble

Mine. The right to a safe, healthy and

productive environment is a large concern

with the proposed Pebble Mine for

indigenous peoples, since some 20% of the

average indigenous family‟s diet in Bristol

Bay consists of sockeye salmon alone.

(Raizer)

It is not just conventional wisdom

when it is said that ecosystems are fragile.

It is clear that the Pebble Mine could create

a huge impact on Bristol Bay. The fate of a

large, productive wild sockeye salmon

fishery that sustains an entire economy

and its people is in the ink that will be

penned for or against the proposed mine.

Bristol Bay produces immense amounts of

wild salmon not only as a food source for

people, but as one for bears, killer whales,

and other vital parts of the natural ecology

of the area. Wild salmon protein is a

necessity; not just for Alaskans but for us

as well! Salmon and their eggs are highly

valued and eaten as a premium food

(delicacy in the case of caviar) around the

world. The North Pacific creates a certain

way of life that coordinates the fish with

the natives who have depended on salmon

for centuries. Sockeye salmon is the social,

economic, and cultural back bone of the

Bristol Bay area. In 2008, the Bristol Bay

salmon fishery generated more than 300

million dollars for the Alaskan economy.

Alaska is an amazing, awe-striking

spectacle of natural beauty. Anyone who

visits will also feel this experience as they

look out on the

practically

untouched natural

frontiers of one of

America‟s most

beautiful states.

Alaska relies on a

good clean

environment for

survival. Sustaining

this environment is

so important that

even some jewelers

who rely on the

efforts of mining,

such as Tiffany and

Co. (tiffany.com), vowed against using any

resources from the proposed mine:

According to Red Gold, a

documentary covering the potential effect

of the Pebble mine in relation to various

stakeholders of the issue, the Alaskan

people live a unique way of life that will

not survive if the salmon don‟t return with

Bristol Bay‟s tide.

The Pebble Mine

project no doubt is a very

controversial issue. The

proposal by Northern Dynasty

Minerals to build one of the

largest gold and copper

mines in the world has many

gray areas; coming to a

unanimous decision will be

very difficult. Northern

Dynasty has not yet applied

for permits, but if they do,

and succeed in undertaking

this mining catastrophe,

Alaska will be changed

forever. Mining at the

headwaters of the world‟s greatest

Sockeye salmon fishery poses a large

threat to not only the environment as a

whole and salmon return, but could be a

huge stroke to the heart of the people of

Bristol Bay people, their way of life, and

Despite the economic and social

benefits that miing can contribute

to

communities, we believe that there

are special places where mining

should not

take place. Bristol Bay, Alaska is one

such place. Tiffany & Co. supports

the

many Alaskans who believe that the

development of the Pebble Mine

poses too

large a risk to the world’s most

productive salmon fishery and to

the wilderness

and recreational resource values

that Bristol Bay embodies. Tiffany &

Co. is

a signatory to the Bristol Bay

Protection Pledge stating that we

will not use gold

from the proposed Pebble Mine

should it be developed.

the world‟s supply of Sockeye salmon. This

proposal today is still a major political

issue in Alaska, pitting pro-mining forces

against local native villages and

commercial and sport fisherman.

(McKittrick) Salmon season is right around

the corner in Alaska. Will it be the last? If

the Pebble Partnership doesn‟t pack up

their drills and get out their fishing poles –

it just might be.

Additional Reading

Kelty, Ruth & Kelty, Ryan. 2010. “Human

Dimensions of a Fishery at a Crossroads:

Resource Valuation, Identity, and Way of Life in

a Seasonal Fishing Community” Society &

Natural Resources: An International Journal V.

4, Iss. 4

Felt Soul Media, producer. Red Gold. University

Film and Video Association, 2010. Film.

Lee, Jeannette J. (2008, March 19) “Forum

Weighs Fishing, Drilling in Bristol Bay.” [Online]

Retrieved May 12, 2011 from

http://www.adn.com/money/story/349523.ht

ml

McKittrick, Erin. (2006-2007) Review of the

Earthworks Mining Water Quality Study: What

it means for the Pebble Mine project

Retrieved May 14, 2011 from

http://www.aktrekking.com/pebble/news/Wat

erQualityStudy.htmlc

Raizer, Julie. (2007, December 14)

“Environmental Justice Definitions”

Retrieved May 13, 2011 from

http://eelink.net/EJ/definitions.html