Angler Opposition Fierce to Alaska's Pebble Mine

This annual sockeye salmon run at the headwaters of Bristol Bay could be destroyed if Pebble Mine is allowed to proceed.

Anglers and others have spoken out overwhelmingly in opposition to the proposed Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay, Alaska, which would endanger one of the world’s most pristine and productive salmon fisheries.

The U.S. Environmental Protection (EPA) agency received about 185,000 comments about the mine, with 98 percent opposed. More than 180,000 of those comments called for EPA to stop development, utilizing protections provided by the federal Clean Water Act.

“Opponents of the mine consider the risk of environmental damage from the waste material (an estimated 10 billion tons) generated by the mining process too great,” says Angling Trade website.

“If allowed, the mine will be located at the headwaters of the Bristol Bay watershed, the spawning grounds for over 40 million fish annually.  Even without a major disaster, experts predict significant, environmental damage will occur if the mine is developed. 

“The EPA’s draft Bristol Bay Watershed Assessment finds that normal mining practices would destroy as much as 87 miles of rivers and streams and 4,200 acres of wetlands.  A major catastrophe, or reoccurring leaks or spills, could devastate the region.”

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