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Bristol Bay Mining

https://ejatlas.org/conflict/pebble-mine-in-bristol-bay-alaska-usa

https://earthworks.org/stories/bristol_bay/

https://earthjustice.org/features/alaska-s-bristol-bay-the-pebble-mine

http://www.savebristolbay.org/pebbleproposal

Here is the Red Dog mining thing he talked about:

https://ejatlas.org/print/red-dog-mine-toxic-tailings-to-kotzebue-and-kivalina-alaska-usa

Comparison case:

https://ejatlas.org/conflict/tahltan-nation-v-fortune-minerals-bc-canada

It is also a case of indigenous communities vs. mining companies because of impacts to salmon population. It would also be cool to compare with the Bristol Bay case because it is in Canada.

Abstract/Summary

Alaska's Bristol Bay is home to the most abundant run of wild sockeye salmon in the world, as well as two dozen Alaskan native communities. The area also has large deposits of gold, copper, and molybdenum in the Kvichak and Nushagak Rivers, two of the eight major rivers that feed Bristol Bay. Due to the area’s richness in precious elements, proposal for a mine has been in talks since 2010. The mine would be one of the largest in the country, and due to its size, geochemistry, adn location, the Pebble Mine would pose major threats to polluting Bristol Bay. The environmental risks of the mine are enormous, but the repercussions to the indigneous peoples of Bristol Bay is equally as important, as the people have lived on these lands for thousands of years and depend on the bay’s salmon for survival.

Salmon Fishery (Stakeholders):

Environmental, Health, and Socio Economic Risks:


 * A Wild Salmon Powerhouse: “Bristol Bay continues to produce the world’s largest sockeye salmon fishery and one of the most prolific king salmon runs left on earth” (What’s at Risk).  A unique positive element to the freshwater environment is that it is untouched by development. The entire ecosystem revolves around the thriving salmon population for natural benefits as well as economic and social aspects.
 * (Bridget) Human Populations - Alaska Native Culture: There are more than 30 Alaska Native Tribes in the region that depend on salmon to support their traditional subsistence ways of life, in addition to other inhabitants and tourists in the area. “If the Pebble mine is developed, the subsistence culture of thousands of people who live in the Bristol Bay region will be threatened”
 * American Jobs and Alaska’s Economy: Alaska is ranked 9th overall among seafood-producing nations around the world.  Bristol Bay is Alaska’s richest commercial fishery, specifically in the area of salmon.  Bristol Bay is a very important and vital contributor to the Alaskan fishing economy. “Commercial fishing-related jobs account for nearly 75 percent of local employment” (Commercial Fishing).
 * World Class Recreational Fishing: Bristol Bay offers an exquisite unique fishing experience that draws people to it’s abundance and experience from all over. “Recreational fishing and tourism brings $90 million annually to the state in the form of taxes and licenses” (What’s at Risk).

Timeline (Mimi):

In reaction to the mine proposal, ‘Save Bristol Bay,’ started by the local community and environmentalists, has been underway for 10 years.

2010:  Nine Bristol Bay Tribes, commercial fisherman, and sportsman requested the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to enact the 404c Environmental Assessment study under the Clean Water Act. The EPA states, “Section 404(c) authorizes EPA to prohibit, restrict, or deny the discharge of dredged or fill material at defined sites in water of the United States (including wetlands) whenever it determines, after notice and opportunity for public hearing, that use of such sites for disposal would have an unacceptable adverse impact on one or more of various resources, including fisheries, wildlife, municipal water supplies, or recreational areas.”

2012:Due to the above request, the EPA issued two drafts of the Environmental Assessment, concluding that the proposal for the Pebble Mine would negatively impact the Bristol Bay salmon. Public input strongly agreed, with over 1 million comments supporting the EPA’s findings and scientists further verifying the data.

2013: The Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) signed and adapted a Determination of Reclassification and Plan Amendment to the Bristol Bay Area Plan. This plan increased the amount of land classified Wildlife Habitat and Public Recreation in the region.

Also this year, the final Bristol Bay Watershed Assessment (BBWA) was released, confirming that the Pebble Mine could not be operated without impacting Bristol Bay and harming salmon. With this news, Anglo American, one of the first and major investors of the Pebble Mine, pulled out its investment in the project.

2014: The global mining giant Rio Tinto gifted its stake in the mine to two Alaskan Charities, pulling its investments from the project.

2015: EPA released its Proposed Determination suggesting to limit mining in the Bristol Bay region due to the irreversible and detrimental impacts it will have to the local salmon ecosystem. After its release, 89.5% of the country was in support of strong protections for Bristol Bay.

2016: The Inspector General came out in support of the EPA’s Watershed Assessment findings, ultimately encouraging limiting mining due to its unavoidable impact on the salmon wildlife in Bristol Bay, affecting both the natural ecosystem and the economic wellbeing of the area.

2017: After a meeting between the EPA Administration and the CEO of Northern Dynasty (developers for the Pebble Project), litigations are settled and the EPA agrees to begin proceedings to withdrawal the Proposed Determination act. Developers move forward with a plan for permits. In July, after the EPA proposes to withdrawal Proposed Determination, the Pebble Limited Partnership submits permits to the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the key agency in charge of reviewing the permit, laid out in a 3-4 timeline. EPA announces to not withdrawal the BBWA.

2018: Due to increased input of concerns for the Bristol Bay fishery becasue of Pebble Project, EPA decides to suspend withdrawal of Proposed Determination. USACE decides to gather more information regarding the impact to area's fish and natural resources.

2019: EPA submits comments to the USACE Environmental Impact Statement saying that the document underestimates the environmental impacts. More than 700,000 comments are posted in opposition to the Pebble Project. Later, the Proposed Determination is revoked, saying the five-year old document does not fully consider all information, including the Pebble Limited Partnership's project plan and the additional information considered during the USACE permit process.

Mine Project Details:

If this project is developed and built, Pebble would be one of the largest mines in the world. From the Project plan proposed in 2017, it is clear that the mine development and functioning would not be able to operate safely alongside the current clean fresh water and salmon population in Bristol Bay. The proposal today represents Pebble taking an approach to get their foot in the door with a mine that is more agreeable with the Alaskan public, but they plan to expand once initiated. However, even starting plans pose to be very detrimental to the salmon population. Plans show that Northern Dynasty Minerals would create a complex that would span 20 square miles in the Bristol Bay watershed. This would also require the world’s largest dam, built to 700 feet in height and stretching several miles in length (Mine Proposal).

Keywords and Concepts Used in the Case Study:

(Bridget) '''Pebble Limited Partnership (PLP): The Pebble Limited Partnership was once one of the largest multinational mining corporations made up of London-based Anglo American, along with Northern Dynasty Minerals, a junior mining company headquartered in Canada. After a few investors walked away, Northern Dynasty was the only company left seeking development.'''

The Clean Water Act

Works Cited:

“Commercial Fishing.” Save Bristol Bay, www.savebristolbay.org/commercial-fishing.

“Mine Proposal.” Save Bristol Bay, www.savebristolbay.org/pebbleproposal.

“What's At Risk.” Save Bristol Bay, www.savebristolbay.org/bristolbayatrisk.