Pebble: Final Review Shows Mine Can Be Developed Responsibly
Photos Courtesy Pebble Partnership
Pebble Partnership CEO Tom Collier is hailing the recent publication of the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Pebble Project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) as one of the most significant milestones thus far for the Pebble Project. “This was really 15 years in the making. From the beginning, we dedicated the time, resources and technical work to ensure we had a project that could be done responsibly, be done without harm to the Bristol Bay fishery, and provide meaningful contributions to the communities closest to the project. “After an extensive, rigorous, and transparent review process the USACE has concluded the Pebble Project meets that mark. This is the same federal review process that has brought Alaskans decades of North Slope development and a host of other resource development projects that were resisted every step of the way by opponents of responsibly developing Alaska’s resources that now provide jobs and economic activity for thousands of Alaskans. “Alaskans, especially the residents of Bristol Bay,
have never received the real Pebble story and after a lengthy misinformation campaign many were led to believe a mine at Pebble would harm the fishery. Today’s report from the USACE turns that lie on its head — returning salmon won’t be harmed, subsistence fishing won’t be harmed, and the commercial fishing industry won’t be harmed. “The final EIS for Pebble unequivocally shows it can be developed without harming salmon populations. It clearly states that no long term measurable impacts to returning salmon are to be expected and there will be no long term changes to the health of the Bristol Bay commercial fishery. “ Several opposing groups have already started loud criticism of the decision and threaten to oppose it. “Some will criticize the USACE and the process they followed to get to this point. That is unfortunate. The USACE is staffed by some of the most diligent public servants in our government. Project detractors will surely take this report to court and I welcome that challenge because the process is sound and defensible. The process has been thorough. It has been thoughtful. I have worked in federal permitting
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August 2020 I The Alaska Miner I www.alaskaminers.org
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