Pebble Mine in the news: October 7

To help keep readers up-to-date, Pebble Watch offers regular roundups of news articles related to the proposed Pebble Mine. Many of this week’s stories regard the “Save Our Salmon” initiative on the October 4 Lake and Peninsula Borough ballot.

“Fishers of Nation’s Largest Salmon Run Fight Proposed Mine” (October 7, 2011 – National Geographic Daily News)
National Geographic News featured Bristol Bay in a series of articles on global water issues. The story provides a broad overview of the controversy surrounding the development of the proposed Pebble Mine and includes local opinions from Kologanek village council member Anuska Wysoki and Nushagak Point fishermen Louis Finch and Tom Rollman, Sr.
Read the entire article at NationalGeographic.com.

“Controversy in Bristol Bay” (October 5, 2011 – Native American Calling radio program)
Host Harlan McKosato leads a discussion about development of the proposed Pebble mine and the “Save Our Salmon” initiative. Guests include Newhalen resident Greg Anelon, attorney Scott Kendall and actor Wes Studi. Several Alaskan residents also called in to add their views and questions to the discussion.
Listen to the one-hour long program at NativeAmericanCalling.com. (Story begins at the 6:00 minute mark).

“World markets, local opposition cause investors to be skittish on Pebble mine” (October 4, 2011 – AlaskaDispatch.com)
According to this article at AlaskaDispatch.com, Northern Dynasty (a 50-percent owner in the Pebble Partnership) has seen its stock fall from above $20 a share to its current $5.68. This story explores how investor confidence in a company can be affected by local views on a project, as well as developments such as the recent ballot initiative in the Lake and Peninsula Borough.
Read the entire article at AlaskaDispatch.com.

“Western Alaskans vote Tuesday on measure targeting Pebble” (October 3, 2011 – Anchorage Daily News)
Associated Press writer Becky Bohrer provides an overview of the ongoing debate over Pebble mine development, including the “Save Our Salmon” initiative that appeared on the October 4 Lake and Peninsula Borough ballot. The article notes that the voting is being conducted by mail, and results are not expected until October 17.

Read the entire story in the Anchorage Daily News.

“Pebble mine: A vote for Southwest Alaska’s future?” (October 3, 2011 – AlaskaDispatch.com)
Amanda Coyne interviews Greg Anelon, Newhalen resident and chair of a group called “Defend Your Rights: Vote No on the ‘Save our Salmon’ Initiative,” revealing his perspective on development of the Pebble Mine and the benefits it could bring to the villages of Bristol Bay. The article also mentions groups and individuals who have come out against development of the mine, including Bristol Bay Native Corporation, Washington state U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, and Save Our Salmon initiative sponsor Bob Gillam.
Read the entire story at alaskadispatch.com.

“Anchorage businessman backs anti-Pebble initiative” (September 29, 2011 – www.forbes.com)
This article details the amount of money spent in support and opposition of the “Save Our Salmon” initiative currently on the Lake and Peninsula Borough ballot. The lead contributor supporting the initiative is Bob Gillam, with $415,000, and the largest contributor against the initiative is the Pebble Partnership, LLC, with $200,000.
Read the entire article online at www.forbes.com.

“Judge sides with Alaska in Pebble Mine lawsuit” (September 28, 2011 – Bloomberg Business Week)
A lawsuit dating back to July 2009 has been decided by Alaska Superior Court Judge Eric Aarseth. Nunamta Aulukestai, an association of nine Bristol Bay village corporations had challenged the constitutionality of the State’s process of issuing the exploratory permits to Pebble Partnership without providing public notice. In his decision, Aarseth “found that the state was not required to give public notice before issuing exploratory permits for the project site.”
Read the entire story at Bloomberg Business Week.