On October 29th, the Environmental Investigation Agency released two new videos in the “Pebble Tapes” series, highlighting behind the scenes investigations that show executives from the Pebble Limited Partnership and its parent company, Northern Dynasty Minerals, discussing a mine plan and political landscape that is vastly different than what the company presented to federal regulators, Congress and the American people.

In the new videos, Northern Dynasty Minerals CEO, Ron Thiessen, is seen telling investigators posed as potential international investors that they shouldn’t worry about statements of opposition from members of Congress, and that Pebble would be a challenge for the company to develop on its own. Specifically:

On the topic of the American election season, which Thiessen refers to as the “silly season” – he says, “It’s the kind of season, once it’s over, everybody forgets what everybody promised to do. You aren’t held to your promises.”
If the mine is granted its key permit, Thiessen says he expects Alaskan taxpayers will foot about one quarter of the bill for capital expenditures. “The total CapEx on this in round numbers is going to be about 5.5 billion. We believe the State of Alaska and other entities in Alaska will fund most of the infrastructure for about 1.5,” Thiessen explained in the recordings.
Thiessen also lays out his plans to claim a massive windfall from U.S. taxpayers if the federal permit is denied. In that event, he expects hundreds of billions of dollars for Pebble based on a claim that a permit denial would amount to an unconstitutional “taking” pursuant to the Fifth Amendment. He tells EIA investigators, “If it’s determined to be a taking by the courts, we expect compensation...the cost to the U.S. Federal Treasury will be $700-800 billion at least.”
Thiessen is asked about the potential for another mining company to carry out the plan Pebble has pushed through permitting: "so you run the project, then sell to someone else to do the work?" He replies about economic feasibility and partners, then acknowledges, "Pebble is the size and scale that it would be a challenge to build it on our own

In response to the idea Pebble wants to rapidly secure permits and then sell to the highest bidder, Nelli Williams, Alaska director of Trout Unlimited, issued the following statement:

“If anyone needs more proof that Pebble cannot be trusted on a single one of their promises to Alaskans, this is it. These people are here because they want to make a buck at our expense. Their science is bad, their plan has already been scrapped because it can’t pass muster, and their promises are worthless. It is past time to close the door on Pebble for good and look ahead to ensure its fishery and businesses can remain prosperous into the future.””

Following the release of the first twelve tapes in September, then-Pebble Limited Partnership CEO, Tom Collier, resigned from his position. Ron Thiessen remains on the job. These Pebble Tapes intensify the call for the Army Corps of Engineers officially deny the permit for the mine that is currently under review and to have members of Congress not only investigate the Pebble Limited Partnership, but also work toward permanent protections for the Bristol Bay region.

Submit a letter to your members of Congress calling for Pebble to be stopped today.