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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers struck a devastating blow against the proposed Pebble Mine near Alaska's Bristol Bay, home to the world's largest sockeye salmon fishery and a key resource for subsistence hunting and fishing activities.
Colonel Damon Delarosa, Alaska Commander for the Army Corps said in a statement that the project proponent's plan to deal with waste from the Pebble Mine “does not comply with Clean Water Act guidelines,” and, “the proposed project is contrary to the public interest.”
The Army Corps' decision reflects concerns from state and federal agencies that have consistently warned that the project would permanently damage the region, potentially destroying more than 2,800 acres of wetlands, 130 miles of streams and more than 130 acres of open water within Alaska’s Koktuli River watershed.
Joel Reynolds, a senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, hailed the decision as a victory in an ongoing battle to protect Bristol Bay, saying, “Today’s decision speaks volumes about how bad this project is, how uniquely unacceptable it is. We’ve had to kill this project more than once, and we’re going to continue killing for as long as it takes to protect Bristol Bay.”
Congress on the brink of passing major conservation legislation
Just months after passing the historic Great American Outdoors Act, Congress is once again poised to pass major conservation legislation. Negotiators for the House and Senate are hoping to reach an agreement on a must-pass defense spending bill, including provisions that would protect iconic landscapes across the West. Passing these bills would be a key step towards protecting 30% of America’s lands and waters by 2030, a bold goal that scientists say would combat the climate and nature crises, while strengthening economies and improving public health.
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The credit for this victory belongs not to any politician but to Alaskans and Bristol Bay’s Indigenous peoples, as well as to hunters, anglers and wildlife enthusiasts from all across the country who spoke out in opposition to this dangerous and ill-conceived project. We can be thankful that their voices were heard, that science counted, and that people prevailed over short-term profiteering.”
