Alaska Miner Journal, June 2021

Pebble Project Faces Another Challenge from Pedro Bay Corp.

Easements Sought Around Lake Iliamna to Protect Salmon

A Bristol Bay village corporation’s plan to sell a conservation easement blocking access to the proposed Pebble Mine site is the latest challenge presented to the Pebble Project. Pedro Bay Corp. is seeking conservation easements on land it owns around Lake Iliamna, an arrangement that would be a significant hurdle to any future plans to remove ore from the giant Pebble deposit. More than 90% of shareholders have agreed to the plan, which calls for The Conservation Fund to buy easements on 44,000 acres. In return for the restrictions on its property rights, the Alaska Native village corporation would receive $18.3 million, plus $500,000 to its cultural and education fund. The land that would be covered by the easement includes part of the “northern corridor” that Pebble Limited Partnership proposed to bring ore from the mine to a port on Cook Inlet. This has been the preferred route for Federal regulators. Pebble said last week that focusing on the permitting process is its sole focus. “Our focus remains on working with the US Army

manage the easement. Its director, Tim Troll, says subsistence, cultural activities and tourism would still be allowed. “There are some limitations on what they can construct. We’re not looking at huge buildings,” he said. “But as long as it’s consistent with the overall purposes of the easement, then it’s OK.” The Conservation Fund, based in Virginia, must raise the money. CEO Larry Selzer said the organization prioritized these lands in part because of Pebble. Pebble Limited Partnership is urging recently confirmed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan to support a full and fair permitting process for the Pebble mine project in Southwest Alaska. After nearly three years of permitting under the National Environmental Policy Act, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers denied federal permits needed to develop a mine at Pebble. This negative record of decision conflicts with an earlier final environmental impact statement by the lead agency for Pebble permitting that found a mine can be developed

at the world-class deposit without damage to the Bristol Bay fishery while also making significant contributions to the economy of the region, as well as the state as a whole. “Thus, the definitive record for the Pebble Project shows it can be developed responsibly, without harm to the Bristol Bay fishery, and for the social and economic benefit of communities closest to the proposed operation, the vast majority of whose citizens are Alaska Natives,” Pebble Partnership CEO John Shively penned in a letter to Regan. Citing inconsistencies in the Army Corps’ findings and unprecedented mitigation requirements, Pebble Partnership has appealed the Army Corps’ decision to deny the Clean Water permit. In addition to providing background on Pebble and offering to meet with Regan and his staff, the Pebble Partnership urges the administrator to support its rights for due process under the law. Alaska Public Media and North of 60 Mining News contributed to this story

Corps of Engineers as its conducts its administrative appeal of the Pebble Project Record of Decision. This recent development hasn’t really changed that focus in any way,” Pebble wrote in a release issued to news media. In November, the Army Corps rejected Pebble’s mine application, saying the plan for the open-pit gold and copper mine was not compatible with the Clean Water Act. The Pebble Partnership is appealing that decision. Pebble is the world’s largest known undeveloped deposit of copper. Pedro Bay Corporation has fewer than 200 shareholders. Protecting important salmon habitat, not thwarting Pebble, is the main purpose of the easements, organizers say. Only a small portion of the 44,000 acres covered would have been used in the northern corridor. The easements would restrict industrial-scale developments, but not all economic activity. The Bristol Bay Heritage Land Trust would

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June 2021 I The Alaska Miner I www.alaskaminers.org

www.alaskaminers.org I The Alaska Miner I June 2021

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