New Scientific Report Concludes Pebble Mine is Too Great a Risk to Bristol Bay 2-7-2012
gengberg February 7th, 2012
New scientific report describes dangers of Pebble Mine to Bristol Bay salmon, watershed and communities;
Concludes Pebble is a monumental gamble that risks too muchPortland, Ore. - The proposed Pebble Mine would siphon as much as 35 billion gallons of fresh water out
of the headwaters of Bristol Bay, Alaska every year, eliminating critical salmon habitat, and would likely facilitate the development of a much larger mining district, further endangering the world’s largest wild sockeye salmon fishery, according to a new, comprehensive report.
“Bristol Bay’s Wild Salmon Ecosystems and the Pebble Mine: Key Considerations for a Large-Scale Mine Proposal,” examines the potential impacts of the proposed Pebble Mine on Bristol Bay’s wild salmon fishery, which produces up to 40 million mature wild salmon each year. The 111-page report, produced by the Wild Salmon Center and Trout Unlimited, details multiple issues and concerns driven by the potential exploitation of Pebble’s massive deposit of copper, gold, and molybdenum.
Examining a wide body of studies, reports, and the best available scientific information, the report analyzes preliminary proposals for the mine, concluding there is too much at stake ecologically, economically, and culturally to risk development of the Pebble deposit.“This report shows the far-reaching impacts that development of the Pebble deposit would have on Bristol Bay’s world-class salmon fishery and largely pristine watersheds,” said Guido Rahr, President of the Wild Salmon Center. “In addition to risks posed by the chronic leaching of contaminants or a catastrophic failure, the proposed mine would substantially alter the hydrology, water table, and available habitat for salmon, which are extremely sensitive to changes in their environment.”
The report emphasizes that approval of the Pebble Mine and its infrastructure will likely lead to the development of a much larger mining district, substantially increasing the odds that mining will harm Bristol Bay’s wild salmon ecosystem. An unprecedented coalition of Alaska Native tribes and corporations, sportsmen, commercial fishermen and others have asked the EPA to protect Bristol Bay by withdrawing the watershed as a disposal site for dredge and fill activities under Section 404(c) of the Clean Water Act. The EPA is currently conducting a scientific assessment of the Bristol Bay watershed to determine whether large-scale development would adversely impact the region’s natural resources.
“This report confirms what hunters and anglers from Alaska to Maine are most worried about - Pebble Mine will damage a place that is a critical part of America’s sporting heritage,” said Shoren Brown, Bristol Bay campaign director for Trout Unlimited. “It provides a thorough analysis of the mine’s potential impacts and makes a compelling case for why a 404(c) process is necessary to protect Bristol Bay.”
Preliminary proposals and studies presented by developers indicate that the Pebble Mine: Continue Reading »
