Western senators (except the ones from Alaska) press Obama to block Pebble

On the eve of a lobbying trip to D.C. by John Shively, CEO of the Pebble Partnership, Senators Patty Murray, Washington; Jeff Merkley, Oregon; and Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, both of California, are asking President Barack Obama to consider blocking the proposed Pebble Mine.

LINK (via: Anchorage Daily News)

It could get worse, much, much worse. Tea Party darling Joe Miller is running for Begich's Senate seat.

Pebble Paradox

Northern Dynasty and their corprate overlords continue to push back on opposition to the Pebble Mine by claiming they have not formally submitted an actual mine plan.

Now they are saying their no plan mine will generate 15,000 jobs and contribute 2.4 billion to U.S gross domestic product.

LINK (via:Mining Weekly)

Bristol Bay Public Comment Deadline Extended to June 30

Today was to be the last day for submitting comments on Bristol Bay to the EPA.

From the EPA:

After considering the many requests to extend or maintain the length of the comment period, EPA has extended the deadline to submit public comments on the revised draft Bristol Bay assessment by 30 days, until June 30, 2013

An additional 30 days allows the public an opportunity to provide feedback on changes made to the assessment as a result of extensive input received in 2012. This extension is reasonable given the complexity and length of the revised draft assessment.

LINK

So how can this document possibly be used to veto a project that could substantially enhance the economic future of southwestern Alaska?

That's a quote from an opinion piece written by Pebble Partnership CEO John Shively questioning the EPA's Bristol Bay actions.

LINK (via: The News Miner)

Send a message to Shively by submitting your save Bristol Bay comments to the EPA. 

By Man or Nature, Places That Will Never Be the Same

This Weather Channel story features a profile of some of the largest holes in the ground, many of which are cavernous open-pit mining operations.

Hit the link to see more visual evidence as to why it would be disaster to put another gigantic mine on top of the world's greatest sockeye spawning habitat.

LINK

Coming out of Retirement to Call Bullshit

Sam Snyder of, if you don't engage in conservation you have no right to be out on the stream fame, is calling bullshit on the anemic comment count on the 2nd EPA Bristol Bay Watershed Assesment.

LINK

So here's the deal. Stop reading this post. Go comment to EPA through this LINK