The Pebble Limited Partnership (PLP) recently announced their next tactic to gain the appearance of a social license in Bristol Bay, angering local residents who reiterated their longstanding opposition to the project.
The Pebble Partnership has announced a revenue sharing program called the Pebble Performance Dividend LLP that promises the distribution of 3% of net annual profits of the Pebble Project to adult residents of the Bristol Bay region.
PLP has a long history of ignoring local communities, breaking promises, and trying to divide the region through lawsuits and attempts to buy local support. The company has continually disregarded the people whose cultures and livelihoods depend on Bristol Bay lands, waters and fisheries.
Local leaders were disturbed by Pebble’s latest move calling it “predatory” and an attempt to exploit local people impacted economically by the COVID health crisis, with no realistic plan to follow through.
“Pebble will tout local support from those who sign up for the project, and actual payouts are a fantasy. It’s shameful Pebble is continuing their predatory tactics –to exploit the people of Bristol Bay into supporting their toxic project, when will they accept that our indigenous way of life cannot be bought and sold?”
The proposal for a dividend program comes with little credibility to the people of Bristol Bay given the fact that Pebble has yet to produce an economic feasibility study for the mine proposal. Independent experts estimate the mine as currently proposed will not generate any revenue – let alone profit – over its proposed lifetime without considerable expansion. Northern Dynasty’s own materials for investors cautions that there is no guarantee it will ever make a profit (page 36).
Additionally, their tailings facilities will need to remain holding toxic waste in perpetuity, with no room for any spill or accident. This means if Pebble is developed, the risk it poses will remain literally, forever. If PLP were serious about supporting the people of Bristol Bay through cash payments, they’d need to last as long as the tailings facility threatens locals’ homelands and waters – not just while Pebble needs friends to get their permit in order.
“This is just an eleventh-hour desperate attempt by Pebble to make empty promises offering breadcrumbs to the very people whose lives will be ruined by this project... We see through this desperation by Pebble and aren’t falling for their empty promises, Pebble cannot be trusted. ”
Over the course of the effort to develop the Pebble mine, little has changed when it comes to Northern Dynasty Minerals. They remain a junior mining company with a risky and incomplete plan, actively working to gain only the appearance of public support. 80% of Bristol Bay residents remain vocally and adamantly opposed to Pebble as they have for well over a decade.
“Here in Bristol Bay, we know that our way of life is more precious than gold, and we will not allow a foreign mining company to devastate our cultures and communities.”
Pebble’s efforts are predatory and shameless, and we cannot let it slide. Bristol Bay will never want their project in the region, and wholeheartedly rejects Pebble’s proposal.
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