Pebble news roundup: Alaska Senate Bill 152; environmental study criticized
Recent Pebble news has focused on Alaska State Bill 152 and the Pebble Limited Partnership (PLP) Environmental Baseline Document. Other items include the appointment of a new Chief Operating Officer at PLP and an in-depth article on Pebble permitting and development from Mining Weekly Online.
“Bill Could Allow Legislature to Approve, Deny Pebble Mine” (March 2, 2012) – Bristol Bay Times
Mike Mason of KDLG reports on Alaska Senate Bill 152, which would allow the legislature to weigh in on development of the Pebble mine.
Listen to entire story at alaskpublic.org.
“Sponsor: Pebble Bill Aims to Protect Reputation of Wild Salmon” (February 26, 2012) – Juneau Empire
Russell Stegall of the Juneau Empire provides background on Alaska Senate Bill 152 and comments from the bill’s sole sponsor, Sen. Hollis French (D-Anchorage).
Read the entire story in the Juneau Empire.
“Bristol Bay Mines bill hits Senate committee” (February 29, 2012) – Juneau Empire
This provides an overview of testimony heard during the first hearing on Alaska Senate Bill 152.
Read the entire story in the Juneau Empire.
“Pebble releases baseline document: Critics say document slanted by funders” (March 2, 2012) – Bristol Bay Times
The Pebble Limited Partnership (PLP) has released its Environmental Baseline Document, and reporter Carey Restino provides comments from both critics and employees at PLP.
Read the entire story in the Bristol Bay Times Online.
“Concerns raised about Pebble mine study process” (February 24, 2012) – Alaska Journal of Commerce
Associated Press reporter Becky Bohrer writes that there are criticisms of the Pebble Partnership’s newly-released Environmental Baseline Document, and she interviews some scientists who spoke about interagency working groups established by Pebble Partnership that ran from mid-2007 to early 2010.
Read the entire story in the Alaska Journal of Commerce.
“Pebble Partnership Appoints Chief Operating Officer” (March 1, 2012) – Alaska Journal of Commerce
The Pebble Limited Partnership has appointed Réjean Carrier as Chief Operating Officer to lead the Pebble Project operations and technical program.
Read the entire story at MarketWatch.
“Northern Dynasty sees consortium of majors developing Pebble as permitting approaches” (February 18, 2012) – Mining Weekly Online
Matthew Hill provides an in-depth and current report on progress for development of Pebble mine, including these points:
- Scientists that compiled Pebble’s Environmental Baseline Document found endangered marine species near the port site; developers would take steps to ensure they were protected.
- Northern Dynasty expects to complete a prefeasibility study by mid-2012, which would be reviewed with Anglo American and announced in late 2012 or early 2013; the permitting process would begin afterward and last through 2016.
- Major companies have been interested in Pebble and according to PLP’s Sean Magee, “it’s very likely that this project will be developed by a consortium or major companies by the time it goes into production.”
- Northern Dynasty’s management has been shopping the project around to companies such as BHP Billiton and Chinese groups.
- Northern Dynasty has seen a large drop in its share price since last year.