03 June 2013

Big Deal Up Here Gets "Scant Attention" in Lower 48

A dispute over a proposed copper and gold mine near Bristol Bay may be one of the most important environmental decisions of President Obama's second term -- yet few in the Lower 48 are even aware that the fight is happening.

At issue is a proposed mining operation in a remote area that is home to several Alaska Native tribes and nearly half of the world's sockeye salmon. Six tribes have asked the Environmental Protection Agency to invoke its powers under the Clean Water Act to block the mine on the grounds that it would harm the region's waterways, fish and wildlife.

~ snip ~

Environmentalists argue that the Bristol Bay project poses a serious threat to the area's delicate ecosystem and to the local fishing industry. Fishing businesses and tribal leaders, who have often quarreled, have banded together to oppose it.

"If we don't protect this, we'll have nothing to fight over in the future," said Peter Andrew Jr., a board member of the Bristol Bay Native Corp. "This is the last place on Earth like this."

The Bristol Bay project would rank as the largest mine in North America if constructed and could eventually produce 80 billion pounds of copper, 107 million ounces of gold and 5.6 billion pounds of molybdenum.

In an early environmental assessment, the EPA estimates the mine would probably cause the loss of between 54 and 89 miles of streams and between four and seven square miles of wetlands. Any accidents, the assessment continued, could result "in immediate, severe impacts on salmon and detrimental, long-term impacts on salmon habitat." [Emphasis added, above - Ed.]

This is a BIG deal, and while I don't usually get involved in development squabbles, this one proposal could be disastrous.

You probably ought to be aware of this one.

4 comments:

Well Seasoned Fool said...

The fish were there first. Needs to be a way to develop the minerals without killing the fish. Until there is a way, no permits, no mining.

The Colorado "Gold Belt" is an example of long term consequences for short term profits.

Rev. Paul said...

WSF, agreed on all points.

Anonymous said...

Yep. Nary a wrinkle on page 28 down here.
Seems as if it's the usual 'why would WE need to know?'

Funny, usually the Green folks get the press.

gfa

Rev. Paul said...

gfa, you know there's nothing "sexy" about Alaska - and not enough Alaskans to matter to the liberals - except for ANWR. (Gotta protect that frozen swampland for sake of the non-existent wildlife, don'tchaknow!)