Dear NRDC Supporter,

The Pebble Mine has been stopped in its tracks.

Last week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers rejected the federal Clean Water Act permit application for the disastrous Pebble Mine, concluding that "the proposed project is contrary to the public interest."

Its decision spares Alaska's pristine Bristol Bay and its Native communities from being destroyed by this proposed gold and copper mega-mine and the billions of tons of mining waste it would dump into the rivers, lakes, streams, and wildlands of Bristol Bay.

This is an incredible victory for Bristol Bay's world-renowned salmon runs that are a lifeline for the Yup'ik, Dena'ina, and Alutiiq Tribes ... the $1.5 billion a year commercial fishing industry ... and the region's pristine wilderness and abundant wildlife, including brown bears, whales, and majestic bald eagles.

And it's a truly game-changing win for us at NRDC, who have been fighting against this project for over a decade — and for NRDC supporters like you, who have fought alongside us every step of the way. You made a huge difference in this fight.

Read more about this incredible win for Bristol Bay and our planet on NRDC.org.

Together, we proved that public pressure works: One by one, four of the largest mining companies in the world — Mitsubishi Corporation, Anglo American, Rio Tinto, and First Quantum Minerals — walked away from the Pebble Mine after overwhelming grassroots opposition from Indigenous communities, the public, and NRDC activists like you.

And last spring, Morgan Stanley dumped over 99% of its shareholding in Northern Dynasty Minerals, the 100 percent owner of the mine.

NRDC activists like you also barraged the Army Corps of Engineers with tens of thousands of messages urging that agency to reject the permit for the project — and our voices were heard!

But this victory isn't the final chapter in our fight. Northern Dynasty has already promised to appeal the permit denial, and when it does, we will be ready to defend the denial before the Army Corps and, if necessary, in federal court.

Most importantly, we still need permanent protection for Bristol Bay, so no future destructive industrial projects like the Pebble Mine can be built there under any administration — EVER.

The incoming Biden administration has vowed to block the Pebble Mine. President-elect Biden has said that as president, he will "protect Bristol Bay and all it offers to Alaska, our country, and the world."

We won't stop fighting until we can be sure that Bristol Bay is permanently protected — and I'm sure you won't either.

We'll be counting on you in the months ahead to help us hold President-elect Biden to his promise and direct his EPA to safeguard Bristol Bay after Inauguration Day.

We've come so far — I hope you'll consider making a special gift to help us get this job done and win permanent protection for this extraordinary wilderness and the people who have thrived there for millennia. Please consider supporting this critical fight today.

I'll be sure to keep you updated as we enter the final phase of this fight — but today, please join me in celebrating this incredible news for Bristol Bay, its people, and our planet.

Sincerely,


Joel Reynolds
Western Director & Senior Attorney, NRDC