Research Project Part 1: Pebble Mine

The Pebble Mine Project is one of the latest environmental concerns in Alaska. The plan calls for a Canadian company to build a mine upriver from one of the largest salmon fisheries in the world (1). Although the Pebble Mine would create 2000 new jobs and potentially billions of dollars (2) it should not be built because of the negative impact it will have on the Bristol Bay Fisheries, Lake Iliamna and the surrounding region.

Mines have had a bad reputation throughout history for pollution, dangerous working conditions, and desolating country-sides. Though environmental standards exist to monitor the impact mining has on the environment, toxic waste created by a mines cannot be disposed of and is placed in dams or manmade “lakes.“ These dams can leak into ground water and rivers, poison animals, and contaminate the area surrounding them (3). Mines also do not harvest a renewable resource. Once all the desired material has been dug out of a mine, the mine is useless. However, subsistence and commercial fishing do harvest renewable resources. Endangering a pristine environment and bountiful renewable resource for the construction of a mine is illogical and in the long-run very damaging for everyone.

Having lived in Alaska all my life I have come to appreciate its unique, untouched environment and strongly believe that it should receive the up-most care. Also, my family’s livelihood is commercial fishing. All of the costal regions of Alaska rely on fishing, which includes Bristol Bay. Endangering fishing would be suicide for coastal Alaska. I know from firsthand experience the importance of maintaining a healthy fishing industry. In 1999 a lawsuit by environmentalist groups closed two-thirds of the stellar sea lion habitat (reaching beyond the Gulf of Alaska into the Pacific Ocean) to commercial fishing. Fishing had been on a downward trend and this made it drastically worse. My family and many other families lost their income because of this. Having experienced first hand the drastic effects the loss of fishing has on the economy, I know enough to be concerned when it is threatened.

Despite the potential negative effects the pebble mine will have on the environment, many people support the idea. If the Pebble Mine is built the Bristol Bay region would have a new industry which would diversify its economy and create new jobs. Also the billions of dollars that can be made from the mine would add to the wealth of the company and its investors. The raw minerals that can be found in the mine would also effect the global industry and economy by proving more resources the can be used for manufacturing and selling.
The Pebble Mine controversy is a serious issue. The potential environmental harm it can cause would devastate the environment and fishing for future generations. By researching and learning about it now, these potential effects can be analyzed and reduced.

1Alaska Department of Fish and Game, 9-25-07
2 Northern Dynasty Minerals, 9-25-07
3 Renewable Resources Coalition, 9-25-07