News roundup, October 30
Recent news related to the Pebble project includes personnel changes at the Pebble Partnership and Anglo-American and information about a new ballot initiative that would require legislative approval of large mines in Alaska.
Easton to Lead Pebble Project Environmental Efforts (October 24 – www.pebblepartnership.com)
Pebble Limited Partnership announced the hire of Dan Easton as vice president of environment, a role held by Ken Taylor before his retirement. Easton will oversee all aspects of Pebble’s environmental program, including permitting and environmental studies.
Cynthia Carroll steps down as Anglo-American CEO (October 26 – Wall Street Journal)
The CEO of Anglo-American, which owns 50 percent of Pebble Limited Partnership, has resigned amid pressure from investors who are unhappy with how the company is performing. Cynthia Carroll was the first woman hired to head up a large mining company, and had visited Alaska in 2007 and again in 2011 to address the Resource Development Council. While she said the she believes fishing and mining can coexist, she also stood by “the commitment that I made to you in 2007 that without proper environmental protections, Pebble should not be built.” Carroll will remain at Anglo until a replacement is found; according to the company, the search could take a year.
Read about Carroll’s address to the Resource Development Council in 2007 and 2011.
New initiative would require legislative approval for large-scale mine (October 26, Fisherman’s News Online via Alaska Native News)
A proposed ballot intitiative, “Bristol Bay Forever,” has been sent to Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell for review. The initiative would require a legislative finding the a mining development would not endanger Bristol Bay’s fishery. According to news reports, Treadwell has 60 days to either certify or reject the application. If approved, backers of the initiative would need to gather signatures by January 2014 to get the initiative on the ballot by fall 2014.