Pebble news roundup: May 21
The Environmental Protection Agency’s May 18 release of its draft “external review” of the Bristol Bay watershed and potential impacts of large-scale mining development on the world’s last remaining large wild salmon fishery, other wildlife and Alaska Native culture rocketed through U.S. media outlets. The Associated Press’s reporting of the study’s preliminary finding was posted on several Alaska media sites, as well as blog sites for various environmental groups. It also was posted on the websites of the major media groups around the country, including the Washington Post and the MSNBC news. We’ve posted some links.
EPA: Alaska mine prospect could affect quality of water, fish (May 18, The Associated Press, via the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)
Failure of a large-scale mine planned near the headwaters of one of the world’s premier salmon fisheries in Alaska could wipe out or degrade rivers and streams in the region for decades, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said in a draft watershed assessment released Friday.
Below are links to other stories from some major national media outlets (click the headline):
EPA report outlines potential Pebble mine risks (Reuters, via Creamer Media’s Mining Weekly)
Pebble mine could devastate Alaska rivers, streams, EPA says (Los Angeles Times, dateline Seattle)
Bay mining would harm Alaska salmon habitat, EPA analysis says (The Washington Post)
Huge Alaska mine could impact premier salmon fishery, EPA says (msnbc.com)
Bloggers also wrote about the assessment release. Here are two examples from May 18:
Montana Sportsmen Support EPA Assessment of Bristol Bay, Alaska, Watershed (Fly Rod + Reel)
Responding to the release of the Environmental Protection Agency’s assessment of the Bristol Bay, Alaska, watershed, leaders of Montana’s recreational angling community urged the federal government to take action to safeguard the bay’s irreplaceable fisheries and stop the proposed Pebble Mine, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and Montana Trout Unlimited announced today.
Has the EPA overstepped its bounds with Pebble project assessment (Mineweb)
In issuing a watershed assessment outlining potential Pebble mine risks to fisheries, wildlife and wetlands in the Bristol Bay region of southwestern Alaska-before the Pebble Partnership has even applied for project permits–did the U.S. EPA overstep its authority?