Today, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that it found the proposed Pebble mine would cause significant degradation to the Bristol Bay region and cannot not receive its key federal permit.
“This is a good day for Bristol Bay,” said Nelli Williams, Alaska director of Trout Unlimited. “No corner should be cut when considering a giant mine in the heart of a place this cherished and important. The Pebble Partnership put forward a half-baked plan with a litany of problems. Pebble had its opportunity to go through the process, but the project fails to meet the standards required. Kudos to all the decision makers involved for calling Pebble out on that.” Read Trout Unlimited’s full press release here.
Over the two-year permit review process, scientists, agencies and countless individuals repeatedly raised concerns related to Pebble’s plans.
With our celebration comes immense gratitude for your voices, your persistence, your generosity and your time. Showing up to testify, writing comments, calling elected officials, repping endless “No Pebble mine stickers”- it all helped us get here.
Today’s announcement is supported by the more than 60% of Alaskans and 80% of the Bristol Bay region’s residents who have opposed the project for nearly two decades. In various comment periods in the effort to permit Pebble, over 3 million Americans have weighed in with the same message: Pebble will threaten American jobs, American fisheries, and one of North America’s most unique and cherished regions, and is the wrong mine for Bristol Bay.
Following the Army Corps’ announcement, Alaska Senators Lisa Murkowski and Senator Sullivan, who both hadn't previously taken a firm position on the mine, came out against a permit for the project today. In a statement, Senator Lisa Murkowski said “I understand, respect and support this decision. I agree that a permit should not be issued.” Senator Sullivan echoed similar sentiments, saying “I have been clear that given the important aquatic system and world-class fishery resources at take, Pebble, like all resource development projects in Alaska, has to pass a high bar — a bar that the Trump administration has determined Pebble has not met. I support this conclusion… that a federal permit cannot be issued.”
For more than a decade, Trout Unlimited brought our organizing tools, science-backed policy expertise, nationwide network, and legal proficiency to this effort. From day one, we stood behind businesses who would be most impacted and the Yup’ik, Dena’ina, and Alutiiq peoples who have taken care of the region since time immemorial.
Thank you to each and every supporter who signed petitions, wrote letters, made calls and donated to ensure that our voices for Bristol Bay were heard loud and clear.
The announcement by the Army Corps of Engineers means that Pebble is not permitted in its current form, but that it could be reviewed again with a new mine plan and new mitigation plan. Today, the coalition of people working to fight Pebble- Tribes, hunters and anglers, commercial fisherman, and many others- are celebrating. But we know our work isn’t done.
While major hurdles have been put in place that will make it extremely difficult for Pebble to advance in its current form, we still do not have up front, permanent and long-term protections in place. What exactly does this mean? It means that Bristol Bay is still a target, and Pebble could come back to make a push to get permits in the future.
With this, we know the fight isn’t over. Today, we celebrate. Tomorrow we come back ready to make sure that the people and fish of Bristol Bay never have to think about their homes turning in to an industrial mining district again. We hope you will join us pursuing long term protection for Bristol Bay.