Pebble Mine in the news: August 17

To help keep readers up-to-date, Pebble Watch offers regular roundups of news articles related to the proposed Pebble Mine. Following are stories that have recently appeared in local and national publications.

“Supreme Court allows Pebble initiative onto October ballot” (August 17, 2011 – Anchorage Daily News)
A ballot initiative that could sidetrack the giant Pebble mine will be allowed to go before voters in the Lake and Peninsula Borough this October under a ruling Wednesday by the Alaska Supreme Court. Read the entire article in the Anchorage Daily News.

“Supreme Court Grants Emergency Review of Pebble Partnership, Lake and Peninsula Borough Case” (August 17, 2011 – Alaska Public Radio)
The Supreme Court of Alaska has granted a motion by the State of Alaska for emergency review of the Case of the Pebble Partnership versus the Lake and Peninsula Borough, as well as the State’s motion for leave to appear and participate in the case as a ‘friend of the court.’. Listen to the story at APRN. (mp3)

“In poll, commercial fishermen come out against Pebble mine” (August 16, 2011 – Anchorage Daily News)
A new poll commissioned by an environmental foundation concludes that Bristol Bay commercial fishermen are overwhelmingly opposed to development of the proposed Pebble mine prospect. The poll, released Tuesday, found that 85 percent of the commercial setnetters and drift fishermen surveyed oppose the Pebble mine. And 98 percent believe the headwaters of Bristol Bay should be protected for future generations. The poll was conducted in May by Craciun Research and has a margin of error of just over 5 percent. Some 350, or 10 percent, of Bristol Bay’s commercial fishing permit holders were surveyed. Read the entire article at the Anchorage Daily News.

“BBNC asks state to stay out of Pebble ballot litigation” (August 15, 2011 – Alaska Dispatch)
Bristol Bay Native Corp. asked the state of Alaska Friday to withdraw its amicus curiae briefing in litigation involving a ballot initiative that would affect development of the Pebble mine. BBNC expressed its disappointment with the state’s attempt to interject itself in the Alaska Supreme Court’s review of the ballot initiative litigation before the election is held. Read the entire article at the Alaska Dispatch.

“Court decision on mining initiative expected soon” (August 15, 2011 – Cordova Times)
Alaska Supreme Court justices have granted a motion from the Pebble Limited Partnership to expedite a decision over a Lake and Peninsula Borough ballot initiative that would affect development of the proposed Pebble mine. The court is still weighing, however, a request by the state of Alaska to participate in the case and a decision on that matter was expected within a few days.
Read the entire article at the Cordova Times.

“Pebble advertising wars heat up as sides seek support” (August 14, 2011 – Anchorage Daily News)
The battle over the giant Pebble gold and copper prospect is escalating across Alaska with a blitz of radio and television ads. Again. You’ve probably at least caught glimpses or heard a fragment or two, but you may be puzzled over what it’s all about. Read the entire article in the Anchorage Daily News.

“Pebble is different from other Alaska mines” (August 12, 2011 – Arctic Sounder)
Alaska’s history is rich with mining, and every mine is different. Gold, copper, lead. But when it comes to the risk of contamination, differences in geology and hydrology – rocks and water – drive the risk. Pebble is different from other Alaska mines because of rocks and water. Read the entire article in the Arctic Sounder.

“State May Intervene in Pebble Mine Case” (August 5, 2011 – Alaska Public Radio)
The State of Alaska has intervened in the case of the Pebble Limited Partnership versus the Lake and Peninsula Borough. The case revolves around whether or not a citizen initiative can go to the ballot in October. ‘Alaskan’s for Bristol Bay’ has been working to get the ‘Save Our Salmon’ Initiative on the ballot since March. The initiative is aimed squarely at Pebble Mine. It would amend the Borough’s development permitting code to prevent the advancement of any large-scale resource extraction activity, including mining that would destroy or degrade salmon habitat. Listen to the story at APRN. (mp3)

“The ‘Pebble Mine girl,’ Alaska’s most unlikely celebrity” (August 2, 2011 – Alaska Dispatch)
Martina Arce might be the best known, least known person in Alaska these days. The “Pebble girl,” as people tend to call her, is all over the place. You can’t turn on your TV or surf to a news web site without seeing the perky, dark-haired young woman explaining, in her now characteristically calm and deliberate way, the economic concerns in southwest Alaska and what part the proposed Pebble Mine might play. Read the entire article at the Alaska Dispatch.