Some good news coming out of Bristol Bay.
The federal Environmental Protection Agency said Monday morning that it will review the suitability of large-scale development projects, such as the proposed copper and gold Pebble mine, in the Bristol Bay watershed.
(Anchorage, Alaska—Feb. 7, 2011) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will conduct a scientific assessment of the Bristol Bay watershed to better understand how future large-scale development projects may affect water quality and Bristol Bay’s salmon fishery, an extraordinary salmon resource for the United States. EPA initiated this assessment in response to concerns from federally-recognized tribes and others who petitioned the agency in 2010 to assess any potential risks to the watershed.
“The Bristol Bay watershed is essential to the health, environment and economy of Alaska,” said EPA Regional Administrator Dennis McLerran. “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.”
In 2010, nine federally-recognized Bristol Bay tribes petitioned EPA to use its authority under the Clean Water Act to protect Bristol Bay. Their concerns focused on the potential Pebble Mine project. Two other tribes asked EPA to wait for mining projects to submit permit applications before taking action.
This action today does not represent any regulatory decision by the agency; instead it represents EPA’s proactive steps to better understand the watershed and gather important scientific information. This information gathered will inform any future guidelines or actions about how to protect the waters and promote sustainable development.
Bristol Bay is an important source of wild Pacific salmon for commercial, recreational, and subsistence users. It produces hundreds of millions of dollars in annual fisheries revenues. The area may be the last major watershed in North America that produces historic numbers of wild salmon. Most of the Bristol Bay watershed is wildlife refuge or park where large development is restricted. EPA’s efforts will focus on those areas that are not protected.
EPA’s assessment is not limited to examining the effects of hard-rock mining projects, but will consider the effects of large-scale development in general.
The assessment, which will focus primarily on the Nushagak and Kvichak watersheds, will be informed by scientific peer review, tribal consultation, federal and state agency participation, as well as public and industry input.
EPA will accept and consider public input during development of the watershed assessment and will continue to work closely with tribal governments, state and federal agencies as we undertake this analysis.
LINK (Via: The Anchorage Daily News)
Photo: John Woolsey
Meanwhile Pebble Partnership CEO and mouthpiece John Shively continues to put his foot in his mouth. KCAW Public Radio in Sitka reports on a speech that Shively just gave to the Sitka Chamber.
Shively said that opposition to Pebble is well-financed “not only by Mr. Gillam, but by outside foundations.” Bob Gillam, an Anchorage financier, has reportedly invested millions fighting Pebble due to its threat to the Bristol Bay watershed. He made a presentation before Sitka Chamber last year.
Shively suggested that fighting projects like Pebble had become an industry for “outside foundations” like the Natural Resources Defense Council and Trout Unlimited. During questions from the audience, Sitka resident and former Senate president Dick Eliason turned the tables on Shively, by asking him to explain who was backing Pebble.
“Sen Eliason – Who’s financing it right now? Shively - The project was originally discovered by Cominco, they didn’t think that they had an economic project. They sold the rights to a company called Northern Dynasty, which is a junior mining company headquartered in Vancouver. Once Northern Dynasty discovered Pebble East and realized how significant the find was, they knew they couldn’t do the project themselves. They went out and made a partnership with Anglo-American, which is the fifth-largest mining company in the world, headquartered in London. And right now the money that’s being spent is all Anglo-American’s money. Sen Eliason – So, it’s foreign investment. Shively – Yeah.”
Shively responded further by adding that Alaska was fortunate to have foreign companies willing to invest here, since the state was “capital poor.” He anticipated that the partnership would begin to apply for permits next year.
In the world according to John Shively it's OK for foreign corporations to bankroll the Pebble Project but not OK for outside groups to oppose it, what a douche.
Listen to Shively's speech to the Sitka Chamber. (Via: KCAW)