IT'S OFFICIAL: PEBBLE MINE IS STOPPED. |
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Dear John,
Today is Victory Day in our long, long fight against Pebble Mine. That's because the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced that Clean Water Act (“404c”) protections will safeguard the headwaters of Alaska’s Nushagak and Kvichak Rivers.
This means that Bristol Bay’s headwaters—the nursery sustaining the world’s greatest remaining wild sockeye salmon fishery—are now off-limits to Pebble Mine. “What a day for wild salmon! This is a victory for one of the most important salmon strongholds left on Earth,” says WSC President & CEO Guido Rahr. “Today belongs to the millions of people who never gave up on this priceless place.” |
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“Now we truly can build a more hopeful future for wild salmon, the communities who cherish them, and the rivers we all call home,” Rahr says. “We commend EPA and the Biden Administration for listening to Alaska Native Tribes, residents, and fishermen.” |
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EPA’s decision comes after more than a decade of relentless campaigning by the people of Bristol Bay and members of our Bristol Bay Defense Fund coalition, led by the United Tribes of Bristol Bay.
Since 2011, you’ve rallied alongside us to battle Northern Dynasty’s quest to build the world’s largest open pit mine in these pristine headwaters. Even with the science clear on Pebble’s threats, we’ve still had to fight constant misinformation, backroom deals, ever-shifting politics, regulatory whiplash, and Northern Dynasty’s deceitful behavior.
Throughout all this, you showed up. Over the past 12 years, EPA has received more than FOUR MILLION letters backing Bristol Bay. |
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“This is a great day for the people of Bristol Bay,” says WSC Alaska Program Director Emily Anderson. “For decades, the mine cast a shadow of uncertainty. But Alaska Native Tribes, communities, businesses and fishermen never gave up on Bristol Bay, and millions of people stood with us. Now everyone who loves their home river knows the power of all of us standing together.” After a decade of uncertainty, it’s time to celebrate. Together, we stopped Pebble Mine—forever. |
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From all of us at Wild Salmon Center and around the world, thank you. |
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With the shadow of Pebble lifted, we're now moving to layer protections for this vast and precious watershed. And rest assured: should we need to again defend Bristol Bay, our coalition will be ready. |
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The mission of the Wild Salmon Center is to promote the conservation and sustainable use of wild salmon ecosystems across the Pacific Rim.
Photo credits: Bristol Bay sockeye (Jason Ching @JasonSChing); Bristol Bay rally (SalmonState). |
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