The EPA publicly announced the reversal of protections for Bristol Bay on July 30, but EPA staff sources reported that they were informed of the decision a month earlier, the day after a meeting between the President and Governor Dunleavy in Alaska.

Protections outlined in the 2014 Proposed Determination are the reason most people thought that the Pebble mine was no longer a threat to Bristol Bay. Today, those protections are gone.

Despite recent news that the EPA may rollback proposed protections for the region, their official comments slammed the Army Corps’ review of the proposal for failing to include critical information about how the project could affect Bristol Bay. And Senator Lisa Murkowski agreed.

Trout Unlimited has teamed up with Omaze, a company that organizes giveaways that give back, to offer one lucky winner and a friend a getaway fly-fishing adventure in Bristol Bay.

Hundreds of thousands of comments were submitted to the Army Corps of Engineers by sport anglers, commercial fishermen, native Alaskans, chefs, bear tourism operators, and members of the public during the 120 day comment period for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Pebble mine.

Sport fishing and recreation businesses from the Bristol Bay region have submitted a letter to Members of Congress urging them to vote “Yes” on the Huffman amendment.

Last week, Representative Jared Huffman (CA) introduced an amendment to the House Energy and Water Appropriations bill that would stop the permitting process for Pebble. If passed, the amendment would prevent the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from using further funding to review the critical Clean Water Act 404 permit application for the mine.  

 Bear viewing can provide sustainable jobs, foods and revenues for our local communities for a long time if they’re properly managed. Giant open pit mines and huge toxic waste pits cannot.