FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jenny Weis, Trout Unlimited (952) 210-7095 or jweis@tu.org
Anglers, hunters to Army Corps: Go back to the drawing board
ANCHORAGE, AK - Today, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced significant last-minute changes to the “preferred alternative” for the proposed Pebble mine, which would now utilize a northern transportation route as opposed to the Lake Iliamna ferry. The Corps states they do not plan to conduct any new environmental analysis or provide additional opportunity for public comment and input.
Local landowners and communities that control access along the new road corridor remain opposed to the project and have not offered such land access. Sportsmen and women also remain opposed.
Today's news is the fifth significant change to Pebble’s mining proposal since the application was submitted a little over two years ago.
“The continued, major changes demonstrate the basic problem with the Pebble mine proposal,” said Chris Wood, president and CEO of Trout Unlimited. “Pebble’s entire approach to developing this mine is held together by bubble gum, baling wire and duct tape. Alaska deserves better than that.”
Sportsmen and women and business owners around the country have pointed out the many inadequacies in both Pebble’s permit application and the Corps’ review process for many months, most recently in a letter addressed to the president signed by nearly 250 businesses.
“This has to stop,” said Brian Kraft, president of Katmai Service Providers and owner of two Bristol Bay fishing lodges. “The Pebble Partnership has presented nothing but a fantasy mine that can only exist on paper and fancy Powerpoints, and the Corps is going along with it.”
“The Pebble Partnership has not improved its plan – it has merely replaced old problems with new ones with this change in route. Neither Pebble nor the Corps have given me an ounce of confidence they can do anything responsibly,” said Nanci Morris Lyon, owner of Bear Trail Lodge and long-time resident of King Salmon. “They should stop wasting everyone’s time so we can get on with more productive conversations like how we can continue to grow the already robust fish-based economy and support local communities here in Bristol Bay.”
This map shows the proposed transportation alternatives. The black line indicates the former preferred route, which today changed to the purple line. NOTE: this image is from the draft EIS. The Army Corps of Engineers has not publicly released the final route under consideration, but said it closely mirrors Alternative 3, known as “the northern route.” More information available at: https://pebbleprojecteis.com/documents/eis
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The Katmai Service Providers represents 64 Alaska fishing, hunting, bear viewing and tourism businesses that operate in the Bristol Bay region. Brian Kraft is the president of the KSP and the owner of two sportfishing lodges in southwest Alaska, one in Igiugig, Alaska and one near Dillingham, Alaska. www.Katmaipark.org
Trout Unlimited is the nation’s oldest and largest coldwater fisheries conservation organization dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring North America’s trout and salmon and their watersheds. We have worked in the Bristol Bay region for almost two decades along with thousands of supporters including dozens of businesses that depend on the fishery of the region. For more information on the Save Bristol Bay campaign go to SaveBristolBay.org or tu.org.
Header image by Tim Romano