Pebble Mine - Controversy

Controversy

The controversy over the proposed Pebble mine centers largely on the potential risk to salmon and other fisheries.

In general, mining opponents claim that the mine poses a significant and unacceptable risk to downstream fish stocks, and perhaps may even be inevitably an environmental disaster if built. Mining proponents claim that the mine can possibly be developed and operated without significantly harming Bristol Bay area fish. A steady stream of electoral, legislative, and legal challenges to possible future Pebble mine development are lodged in Alaska. Some of these assert that even the drilling and other scientific investigations conducted to date have caused significant adverse effects to the land and wildlife near the Pebble site.

Pebble has been a major issue in Alaska politics since the mid-2000s; national environmental and sport-fishing organizations are involved, national publications cover the issue.

A 2006 poll reported 28% of Alaskans in favor of and 53% opposed to Pebble. Another poll in 2006 reported 45% of Alaskans in favor and 31% in opposition. A poll of Bristol Bay residents reported 20% in favor and 71% opposed. Fifty-seven percent of Alaskan voters in a 2008 statewide election voted against a ballot measure that would have essentially outlawed mine development at Pebble, and perhaps elsewhere in Alaska.

Organizations including the Resource Development Council, Alaska Mining Association, and the Alaska Chamber of Commerce support development at Pebble. The proposal has strong support amongst state-wide elected officials in Alaska.

Opposition to the proposal is being led by organizations including; the Renewable Resources Coalition (formed in 2005 to oppose the Pebble project), local native groups (such as the Bristol Bay Native Association), commercial and sport fishing organizations (such as the Alaska Independent Fishermen's Marketing Association and the Alaska Wilderness Recreation and Tourism Association), and environmental groups (such as American Rivers and Trout Unlimited). Deceased Senator Ted Stevens, a strong proponent of other resource extraction projects, expressed in 2007 his opposition to the Pebble proposal.

In April 2009, a Native delegation from the Bristol Bay region attended in London the annual shareholder's meeting of Anglo American, the major mining company behind the Pebble project. Travellers included Bobby Andrew, a Bristol Bay Village Representative, Peter Andrew Jr., a commercial fisherman and member of the Bristol Bay Native Corporation's board of directors, tribal advocate Lydia Olympic, Everett Thompson, a Bristol Bay driftnetter and business owner, and Thomas Tilden, chief of the Curyung Tribal Council. The delegation met with Cynthia Carroll, CEO of Anglo American, delivering the message that the Bristol Bay watershed is no place for an open-pit mine.

Several prominent UK jewelers announced a pledge not to buy gold from the Pebble mine if it is built, joining several American jewellery retailers and manufacturers who had done the same in 2008.