Letter to the editor published in the Alaska Dispatch News 2/13/2-17

Pictured above: Harmony with her brother, Reise, at their set net site last summer.

I am writing in regards to the article titled, "Pebble project deserves fair assessment" (ADN, Jan. 31). I don't believe the EPA was overreaching in its decision against the Pebble project. In fact, to the contrary, many residents including myself commemorated this decision with T-shirts and celebrated a victory for clean water and wild salmon.

Bristol Bay residents overwhelmingly oppose the Pebble mine with over 80 percent regional opposition, including Bristol Bay Native Corp., Bristol Bay Native Association (31 tribes), Bristol Bay Economic Development Corp. (17 tribes), United Tribes of Bristol Bay (14 tribes), and Nunamta Aulukestai (14 Alaska Native village corporations). The state of Alaska still polls at 60 percent opposed to Pebble development and in 2014 voters approved raising restrictions on the permitting process. As a commercial fisherman, my livelihood depends on salmon entirely, and I am not willing to let the last great sockeye salmon fishery be ruined by corporate greed. As a 19-year-old, I have grown up with this fight, walking in rallies and speaking up since I can remember. I hope the next generation can have security in knowing we protected this priceless resource, and are able to fish the same waters my family has for more that 60 years. Alaskans don't want the Pebble mine.

— Harmony Wayner
Naknek