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Northern Dynasty Minerals' response to EPA's Determination

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Northern Dynasty Minerals' response to EPA's Determination

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The official Environmental Impact Statement from the US Army Corps of Engineers

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The official Environmental Impact Statement from the US Army Corps of Engineers

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Pebble Project Final Environmental Impact Statement.

Publication: JBER, AK : US Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District, [2020]

July 2020.

Physical description (print version): 6 volumes : color illustrations, color maps, plans ; 28 cm.
The appendices and references documents were not printed, but online versions are linked below.

Note on title: The title is from the title page of volume 1. The PDFs, as originally published, lack cover images and title pages. ARLIS has added those pages into the first PDF file for each volume.

Note on format: The six main volumes were published in print format. The appendices and references were not printed, but are available in online on this webpage or the Army Corp's webpage. Some appendices and attachments may be available as independent publications. Furthermore, this Final EIS is also published on a wafer card (fitting a USB port), which is also available at ARLIS.

Revision of: Pebble Project EIS, Draft Environmental Impact Statement. February 2019.

General Pebble Project Information

See the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Pebble Project webpage.

Reference documents

Documents that are cited within the Final EIS are listed on the Pebble Project Final EIS Documents webpage (look under "Referenced Cited in the Final EIS"). There are 1846 documents linked online for full text.

This document is the final environmental impact statement for the Pebble Project, a proposed surface mine for a prospect that is principally a copper deposit with significant amounts of molybdenum, gold, silver, rhenium, and palladium. The mine site is located 200 miles southwest of Anchorage. In addition to the open pit mine, the project will include a 270-megawatt power generating plant, a 188-mile natural gas pipeline extending to the Kenai Peninsula, mine and port access roads, ferries, an 18-mile crossing of Illiamna Lake, and a port facility on the western shore of Cook Inlet. The document describes the project and information on environmental resources in the project area and potential environmental impacts on alternatives.

LINKS VIA ARLIS DOCUMENT SERVER

Volume 1

Section 508 Disclaimer

'Dear Reader' letter

Table of Contents

List of Acronyms and Abbreviations

Index

Chapter 1 Purpose and Need

2 ½ MB

Volume 2
Chapter 3
Sections 1 to 9
Affected Environment

3.1 Introduction to Affected Environment

3.2 Land Ownership, Management, and Use

3.3 Needs and Welfare of the People - Socioeconomics

3.4 Environmental Justice

3.5 Recreation

3.6 Commercial and Recreational Fisheries

3.7 Cultural Resources

3.8 Historic Properties

3.9 Subsistence

19 MB

Chapter 3
Sections 10 to 15

3.10 Health and Safety

3.11 Aesthetics Resources

3.12 Transportation and Navigation

3.13 Geology

3.14 Soils

3.15 Geohazards and Seismic Conditions

17 MB

Chapter 3
Sections 18-22

3.18 Water and Sediment Quality

3.19 Noise

3.20 Air Quality

3.21 Food and Fiber Production

3.22 Wetlands and Other Waters/Aquatic Sites

11 MB

Volume 3
Chapter 4
Sections 1 to 15
Environmental Consequences

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Land Ownership, Management, and Use

4.3 Needs and Welfare of the People - Socioeconomics

4.4 Environmental Justice

4.5 Recreation

4.6 Commercial and Recreational Fisheries

4.7 Cultural Resources

4.8. Historic Properties

4.9. Subsistence

4.10 Health and Safety

4.11 Aesthetics

4.12 Transportation and Navigation

4.13 Geology

4.14 Soils

4.15 Geohazards and Seismic Conditions

6 MB

Volume 4
Chapter 4
Sections 20 to 22

4.20 Air Quality

4.21 Food and Fiber Production

4.22 Wetlands and Other Waters/Aquatic Sites

10 MB

Chapter 4
Sections 23 to 27

4.23 Wildlife Values

4.24 Fish Values

4.25 Threatened and Endangered Species

4.26 Vegetation

4.27 Spill Risk

13 MB

Volume 5
Chapters 5 to 8

Chapter 5 Mitigation

Chapter 6 Consultation and Coordination

Chapter 7 Cooperating Agencies and Preparers

Chapter 8 List of Agencies, Organizations, and Persons to Whom Copies of the Statement Have Been Sent

1 MB

Appendices

Appendices B-F

Appendix B Alternatives Development Process

Appendix C Project Mailing List

Appendix D Comment Analysis Report

Appendix E Laws, Permits, Approvals, and Consultations Required

Appendix F (not used) (placeholder page only)

10 ½ MB

ESA Biological Assessment--USFWS

"U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Assessment - Section 7" (May 2020)

38 ½ MB

ESA Biological Assessment--NMFS

"National Marine Fisheries Service Biological Assessment - Section 7" (May 2020)

15 MB

EFH assessment

"Essential Fish Habitat Assessment : Pebble Project" (June 2020)

28 MB

Appendix K
Front matter to
Section K 3.7
Technical Appendices

Table of Contents

K 2 Alternatives

Affected environment
K 3.1 Introduction to Affected Environment

K 3.6 Commercial and Recreational Fisheries

K 3.7 Cultural resources

7 MB

Appendices K 3.10 to 3.15

K 3.10 Health and Safety

K 3.12 Transportation and Navigation

K 3.13 Geology

K 3.14 Soils

K 3.15 Geohazards and Seismic Conditions

K 3.16 Surface Water Hydrology

7 MB

Appendices K 3.18 to 4.10

K 3.18 Water and Sediment Quality

K 3.26 Vegetation

Environmental consequences
K 4.10 Health and Safety

3 MB

Appendices K 4.17 to 4.20

4.17 Groundwater Hydrology

4.18 Water and Sediment Quality

4.20 Air Quality

15 MB

Appendices K 4.25 and 4.27

4.25 Threatened and Endangered Species

4.27 Spill Risk

623 KB

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ARLIS Document Server : Pebble Project EIS, Final Environmental Impact Statement

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Pebble Project Final Environmental Impact Statement. Publication: JBER, AK : US Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District, [2020] July 2020. Physical description (print version): 6 volumes : color illustrations, color maps, plans ; 28 cm.The appendices and references documents were not printed, but online versions are linked below.

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A brief overview of the Pebble Mine Timeline (from initiation to current)

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A brief overview of the Pebble Mine Timeline (from initiation to current)

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Wild Bristol Bay salmon feed people all across the country and the world. For the Alaska Native people who comprise the majority of the Bristol Bay area population, and whose cultures can be described as " salmon-based," salmon have a significance even beyond sustenance and wealth.

Well aware of what they stood to lose, six Alaska Native Tribes in Bristol Bay petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2010 to protect this beloved watershed from Pebble Mine. They were soon joined by a large, diverse group of people who also depend on the fishery, including more Bristol Bay Tribes and tribal organizations, commercial and recreational fishermen, seafood processors and marketers, chefs, restaurants, supermarket owners, sport fishing and hunting lodge owners and guides.

Under the Obama administration, the EPA heard them. Following a multi-year rigorous, peer-reviewed scientific study of how important the watershed is and why, the agency found that even the smallest Pebble Mine would irreversibly damage the Bristol Bay ecosystem.

Things changed dramatically under the Trump administration.

In a climate shaped by the Trump administration's coziness with polluting industries, the company behind Pebble Mine tried to sneak a permit through Clean Water Act regulations with the dubious promise of sticking to what it views as a "small" mine.

In a rushed process out of proportion with the project's extensive destructive impacts, the Army Corps released its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) in 2019, and the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) the following year.

Despite its incomprehensible predictions that Bristol Bay salmon would be unharmed, the FEIS omitted critical details about how exactly Pebble would avoid harming fish. The agency focused its analysis on Pebble's 20-year proposal, barely even mentioning potential impacts of expanding the mine. Meanwhile, Pebble consistently told their investors that Pebble Mine will grow beyond the proposal the Army Corps analyzed and will last generations.

Pebble Mine executives were caught on tape saying that they expect the project proposal they have submitted to the federal government to pave the way for as much as 180 years of mining - much more than the 20 years that the proposal states. "Once you have something like this in production, why would you want to stop?" said the chief executive of mine operator Northern Dynasty Minerals in one of several recorded meetings that were made public on Sept. 21, 2020.

On Nov. 25, 2020, the Army Corps denied a key permit for Pebble Mine, essentially finding that the mine would cause significant degradation to the surrounding environment, and that it would not be in the public interest. The decision is consistent with a U.S. EPA determination that was made under the Obama administration.

This is a victory for the Alaska Native communities who opposed the mine, wild salmon, families who rely on commercial fishing for their livelihoods, and the irreplaceable Bristol Bay watershed.

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Wild Bristol Bay salmon feed people all across the country and the world. For the Alaska Native people who comprise the majority of the Bristol Bay area population, and whose cultures can be described as " salmon-based," salmon have a significance even beyond sustenance and wealth.

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Bristol Bay environmental significance to Native peoples and Alaskan residents

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Bristol Bay environmental significance to Native peoples and Alaskan residents

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Bristol Bay is well-known for clear, winding rivers, lakes, and dramatic panoramas of tundra against mountain backdrops. The pristine landscape supports an astonishing diversity of wildlife: from marine mammals and fish to land mammals and birds.

Imagine living in a land where brown bear outnumber residents, where most travel is on river or by air because there are only 200 miles of roads, and where 45-65 million sockeye salmon return annually in a tradition going back thousands of years.

Salmon is a treasured resource at the heart of Bristol Bay's culture and economy, which is supported by subsistence, sport and commercial fishing. The nine river systems flowing into Bristol Bay sustain tens of millions of salmon across all five species-king, sockeye, pink, silver, and chum.

Our heritage is one of the last salmon-based cultures on earth is deeply connected to Bristol Bay's land and waters. Reverence for the land within Bristol Bay guides BBNC's policies and operations. Every acre commands our respect-and deserves our prudent management.

More about the Land and Resources of the Bristol Bay Region

The Bristol Bay region encompasses more than 27.5 million acres of land and 12.5 million acres of marine water.

Bristol Bay is home to 7,400+ residents, many of whom maintain the subsistence lifestyles of their Yup'ik, Alutiiq, and Dena'ina ancestors.

Eleven specific areas are designated as state or federal parks and refuges. This represents 37,763 total square miles.

Topographical features of Bristol Bay range from black sand beaches and lowland tundra to the volcanoes, mountains, and the 77-mile long Iliamna Lake (third largest lake in the U.S.).

In addition to salmon, the harvest of caribou, moose, sea mammals, beaver, porcupine, fox, and waterfowl support the subsistence, commercial, and sport activities of our communities.

The Bristol Bay region contains mineral and rock deposits, including copper, gold, silver, coal, armor rock and gravel.

Left to right: Daniel Cheyette, Francisca Demoski, Russell Phelps, and Mischa Ellanna.
For any questions related to BBNC's land management, contact its Land Department at (907) 278-3602 or (800) 426-3602.

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Bristol Bay is well-known for clear, winding rivers, lakes, and dramatic panoramas of tundra against mountain backdrops. The pristine landscape supports an astonishing diversity of wildlife: from marine mammals and fish to land mammals and birds.

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Media Credits

The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited.

Writer

National Geographic Society

Editor

Producer

National Geographic Society

other

Last Updated

September 27, 2022

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Pebble Mine | National Geographic Society

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Media Credits The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited.

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Alaska Native peoples voicing their concerns against the Pebble Mine Project in a documentary titled: “We can’t eat gold”

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Alaska Native peoples voicing their concerns against the Pebble Mine Project in a documentary titled: “We can’t eat gold”

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SCREENING LINKS TO SHARE:

Official Website
http://www.wecanteatgold.net/
Vimeo
hhttps://vimeo.com/479891868
Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxNuVJ_2iiw&t=3s
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/wecanteatgold/videos/713843269030426/
SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENTS HERE:

Generic Public Comment option: (submit in 30 seconds by clicking on "take action" at the link below)
http://www.savebristolbay.org/
Write Your Own Public Comment
https://pebbleprojecteis.com/publiccomments/neweiscomment
POSTER TEMPLATE

above

ONLINE ORGANIZING

The official Facebook fan page will share your event if you send a Facebook message. You can also tag it in your posts to connect people to more information.
https://www.facebook.com/wecanteatgold/
The official trailer is another good video to share to remind people about your event.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQT3dF5rVR0
QUESTIONS

Director Joshua Tucker can be reached at wecanteatgold@gmail.com. He s often available to speak at screenings via Skype and other apps.

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Official Website http://www.wecanteatgold.net/ Vimeo hhttps://vimeo.com/479891868 Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxNuVJ_2iiw&t=3s Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wecanteatgold/videos/713843269030426/ Generic Public Comment option: (submit in 30 seconds by clicking on "take action" at the link below) http://www.savebristolbay.org/ Write Your Own Public Comment https://pebbleprojecteis.com/publiccomments/neweiscomment above The official Facebook fan page will share your event if you send a Facebook message.

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YouTube Channel showcasing Indigenous voices, updates on the Pebble Mine Project fight, and campaign videos against the proposed mine

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YouTube Channel showcasing Indigenous voices, updates on the Pebble Mine Project fight, and campaign videos against the proposed mine

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Fighting for lasting protections for Bristol Bay, Alaska against the ongoing threat of the Pebble Mine.

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Local businesses opposing Pebble Mine and asking Governor Dunleavy to stop supporting the Pebble Mine Project

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Local businesses opposing Pebble Mine and asking Governor Dunleavy to stop supporting the Pebble Mine Project

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Interviews of Alaskan residents and Alaska Native leaders within the Bristol Bay community sharing their concerns and worries about the Pebble Mine project

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Interviews of Alaskan residents and Alaska Native leaders within the Bristol Bay community sharing their concerns and worries about the Pebble Mine project

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A month from winter solstice, Dillingham, Alaska - where the Nushagak River dumps into Bristol Bay - was dark, quiet, and chilly last November. Snow and wind blew across the surrounding tundra not far from her windows when texts started flooding into Alannah Hurley's phone. The news: A major permit for the proposed Pebble mine would be denied by the Trump Administration.

Alannah started to cry. She later described how she felt.

Simmering for years, the Pebble mine controversy vaulted into the broader public eye in 2008 with the release of the Felt Soul Media Film, " Red Gold," then reached a crescendo in 2010 when local Tribes petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to safeguard the region from the impacts of large-scale mining.

Millions of recreational and commercial anglers, hunters, conservationists, and scientists were quick to back up the Tribes and remain engaged to this day, two decades after the first rumors of Pebble mine began to circulate.

In 2020, we saw perhaps the most unlikely and hard-won outcome with the denial of the mine's federal permit.

But celebrations have quickly turned back to determination.

Everyone who cares about Bristol Bay knows the next step is to secure permanent protections for the region amid a Pebble-friendly state government. TU and our partners are at work on lasting safeguards for trout and salmon and the fish-based resources of Bristol Bay.

By working with the EPA and allies in Congress, we can achieve long-term security for Alaskans and their homes, jobs, and culture.

Earlier this year, I sat down with a handful of people who have worked together on the Pebble front lines for nearly two decades.

Through devastating setbacks, monumental victories, and long red-eye flights to Washington, D.C., they've attended more hearings and rallies than they can count. They've grown together, showing the world how to be advocates. Through the years they've become central players in each other's lives.

Listen in as they reflect on the victory, share stories on the paths they took to arrive here, and prepare for the road ahead. And please visit savebristolbay.org/take-action to add your support for long-term protections.

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United By Hope: Bristol Bay Dialogues - Trout Unlimited

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A month from winter solstice, Dillingham, Alaska - where the Nushagak River dumps into Bristol Bay - was dark, quiet, and chilly last November. Snow and wind blew across the surrounding tundra not far from her windows when texts started flooding into Alannah Hurley's phone.

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Discussion between EPA, tribal leaders, and Alaskan community members on the Pebble Mine Project and the impacts it would impose onto the affected communities

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Discussion between EPA, tribal leaders, and Alaskan community members on the Pebble Mine Project and the impacts it would impose onto the affected communities

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House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee

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HEARING: “The Pebble Mine Project: Process and Potential Impacts”

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Mining Impacts on Salmon ecosystems in Bristol Bay, AK

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Mining Impacts on Salmon ecosystems in Bristol Bay, AK

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Document illustrating Indigenous worldview from Alaska Native cultures, traditions, and connections with the lands (of Nushagak, Kvichak watersheds, AK)-which was sent to the Bristol Bay Assessment EPA in 2011.

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BBNC support for EPA response and excitement to finally move towards Final determination	

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BBNC support for EPA response and excitement to finally move towards Final determination	

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 1, 2022 BBNC Supports EPA's Work to Safeguard Bristol Bay's Fishing Economy and Way of Life
CONTACT:
Dan Cheyette, SVP, Land & Natural Resources
(907) 278-3602 or dcheyette@bbnc.net

ANCHORAGE, AK - Bristol Bay Native Corporation (BBNC) applauds Region 10 of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for issuing a Clean Water Act Section 404(c) Recommended Determination. This is the next step in the administrative process to protect the Bristol Bay watershed from the proposed Pebble mine. EPA headquarters must still review the Recommended Determination and do additional outreach with the affected parties before the agency can issue a Final Determination.

BBNC President and CEO Jason Metrokin made the following statement regarding the Recommended Determination:

"We thank EPA for its longstanding commitment to the people - and salmon - of Bristol Bay. The current EPA process is the product of decades of research, analysis, data gathering, and public comment and should allow for a targeted approach that, when finalized, will help safeguard Bristol Bay's economy and way of life for future generations. BBNC joins many across the region and across Alaska in calling for EPA to issue a Final Determination as quickly as possible to provide certainty as we head towards what should be another historic fishing season.

"For the last 13 years, BBNC has joined the overwhelming majority of our shareholders in standing against the proposed Pebble mine. We are glad to be one step closer to ending this long chapter in our region's history, and, looking forward, we will never be complacent in fighting for Bristol Bay, its people, its fish, and our Native way of life."

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About Bristol Bay Native Corporation: Bristol Bay Native Corporation (BBNC) is a diversified Alaska Native investment corporation dedicated to the mission of "Enriching Our Native Way of Life." Established through the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971, BBNC works to protect the land in Bristol Bay, celebrate the legacy of its people, and enhance the lives of its shareholders. Learn more at bbnc.net.

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BBNC Supports EPA's Work to Safeguard Bristol Bay's Fishing Economy and Way of Life - Bristol Bay Native Corporation

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 1, 2022 BBNC Supports EPA's Work to Safeguard Bristol Bay's Fishing Economy and Way of Life CONTACT: Dan Cheyette, SVP, Land & Natural Resources (907) 278-3602 or dcheyette@bbnc.net ANCHORAGE, AK - Bristol Bay Native Corporation (BBNC) applauds Region 10 of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for issuing a Clean Water Act Section 404(c) Recommended Determination.

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Governor Dunleavy’s perspective against the EPA veto process and Biden’s efforts to stop Pebble Mine

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Governor Dunleavy’s perspective against the EPA veto process and Biden’s efforts to stop Pebble Mine

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EPA and the Biden Administration Block Alaska’s Rights, Threaten Alaska’s Entire Mining Industry – Mike Dunleavy

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You are here: Home / Press Releases / EPA and the Biden Administration Block Alaska’s Rights, Threaten Alaska’s Entire Mining Industry

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Dunleavy’s letter to EPA (Sept 6th, 2022)

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Dunleavy’s letter to EPA (Sept 6th, 2022)

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Overview of Dunleavy’s support of Pebble Mine

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Overview of Dunleavy’s support of Pebble Mine

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A Complete History of Governor Dunleavy’s Support of the Pebble mine — Save Bristol Bay

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Since his 2018 election, Alaskans have watched Governor Dunleavy move from a place of relative neutrality, to repeated actions that suggest that he is in full support of the Canadian mining company that plans to risk Al

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EPA accepted public comments on its 2022 Proposed Determination through September 6, 2022. You can read posted comments here. Based on a review of the comments, EPA will release a Recommended Determination by December 2022 and, ultimately a Final Action by the end of 2022 or early 2023. To read more about the 2022 Proposed Determination and EPA's progress towards a Final Action click here.

In November, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers rejected the key federal permit for Pebble mine. While this was unquestionably good news, it is not the end of the fight over Pebble Mine.

While the current iteration of Pebble was rejected, the Pebble Limited Partnership (PLP) and the threat of large-scale, open-pit mining in Bristol Bay are not going away. As long as there is a need for copper or gold, powerful interests will want to mine those minerals from the Pebble deposit. That's why Bristol Bay needs additional legislative measures. BBNC is working with Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, allies in Congress from both parties, and other regional stakeholders to advance a solution that both protects Bristol Bay and its salmon resource while funding sustainable economic opportunities for southwest Alaska. BBNC is committed to pursuing this path because our region deserves a durable solution to Pebble and new economic opportunities for our people.

Since 2009, Bristol Bay Native Corporation has formally opposed the proposed Pebble mine at the headwaters of the Nushagak and Kvichak Rivers in Bristol Bay, Alaska. These rivers support the prolific salmon runs in Bristol Bay, which produce tens of millions of sockeye salmon every year and support a billion-dollar commercial fishing industry, 14,000 fishing jobs, a robust sportfishing and tourism economy, and our Alaska Native way of life. The gold and copper mine, which would produce billions of tons of wasterock stored in perpetuity behind a massive earthen dam, would threaten all that Bristol Bay holds dear. Our views on Pebble mine are based on our "fish first" value - and the opinions of the vast majority of our over 10,300 Alaska Native shareholders.

We are opposed to the Pebble mine because science has proven it will have unacceptable, adverse impacts to Bristol Bay's watershed. Even the conservative and incomplete Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) for the mine plan estimates that Pebble could destroy over 3,000 acres of pristine wetlands and 105 miles of streams, while mining less than 13% of the ore body located at Pebble. Top executives at Pebble Limited Partnership (PLP) and parent company Northern Dynasty Minerals (NDM) acknowledge that the mine will be much larger and potentially in operation for 180 years or longer.

Our late Republican Senator Ted Stevens' words still ring true: "Pebble is the wrong mine in the wrong place."

"In order to best protect the land of Bristol Bay and the way of life for current and future generations of BBNC shareholders, BBNC must do its part to protect the sustainable natural resources of our region. Development of the Pebble mine would threaten the Bristol Bay fishery and the world-class salmon run which has served as the heart of our subsistence lifestyle, supporting our people for generations. BBNC's firm opposition to Pebble is consistent with the values of cultural and economic sustainability to which we hold ourselves." - Joe Chythlook, Past BBNC Chairman

"BBNC does not otherwise oppose mining development. Pebble mine is simply different. In any configuration, the mine is too big and will be located in too important of a location. It poses unacceptable risks to the salmon resource and consequently, the subsistence lifestyle and economic interests of our shareholders." - Jason Metrokin, BBNC President & CEO

After years of delay, the Pebble Limited Partnership (PLP) began the federal permitting process for Pebble mine in late 2017 through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Comparable mines typically take five years or more to reach a final federal permit - it took six years for the Donlin mine in western Alaska - but the current timeline for Pebble is expected to last approximately three years. This is unprecedented for a mine that could be among the largest open-pit mines in North America and would be located in a uniquely sensitive watershed ecosystem.

The Corps of Engineers completed the Final EIS for Pebble in July 2020. The Final EIS is intended to provide the scientific rationale for approving or denying the federal Clean Water Act permit for the mine. The Final EIS for Pebble, beset by flaws and inadequacies along with critical comments from multiple state and federal agencies, still clearly demonstrates that Pebble would have extensive impacts on Bristol Bay's wetlands and rivers. In addition, the Final EIS does not address the fact that PLP has yet to obtain permission to use lands necessary for its transportation corridor north of Lake Iliamna, including subsurface lands and resources owned by BBNC.

On August 24, 2020, the U.S. Army Corps announced that Pebble mine "could not be permitted" as proposed, based largely on its inadequate compensatory mitigation plan. The Corps subsequently denied PLP's permit application because it determined that Pebble would cause unavoidable adverse impacts to the region's waters and was contrary to the public interest.

In a state known for its support of resource development, Alaskans have consistently opposed Pebble mine. Most recently, a survey of likely November 2020 voters taken in June 2020 shows Alaskans oppose the mine by a 2-1 margin (62% to 31%). BBNC's own polling has shown similar results, with a majority of Alaskans opposing the mine dating back to at least 2012. The mine is also opposed by 76% of BBNC shareholders, with majorities opposing the mine in every part of the Bristol Bay region, including communities closest to the mine site.

Moreover, since 2012, over 2.5 million comments have been submitted to EPA and other federal agencies expressing opposition to Pebble mine. The vast majority of comments from Alaskans have been in opposition. The depth and breadth of this coalition is unprecedented for a major resource development project.

Alaskans and residents in the lower 48 understand the importance of one of the world's largest, and last, commercial sockeye salmon runs. Pebble has had over ten years to gain the public's trust and continues to spend untold funds to gain support of Alaskans. But Alaskans aren't buying what Pebble is selling.

In September of 2019, Alaska Senator and Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Lisa Murkowski included language in an appropriations bill report that expressed concerns with the permitting process and encouraged a permit denial if the concerns aren't met.

Both Senator Murkowski and Senator Dan Sullivan supported the Army Corps' August 2020 conclusion that the mine could not be permitted as proposed. Senator Murkowski said, " I agree that a permit should not be issued." Senator Sullivan said, "I support this conclusion - based on the best available science and a rigorous, fair process - that a federal permit cannot be issued. "

The Senators reiterated their opposition during the Bristol Bay Voices Panel held during the 2020 Bristol Bay Wild Salmon Celebration.

"After this very rigorous, very thorough process, the [Army Corps of Engineers] has found that the Pebble project as currently proposed does not meet that high bar. And I have said, if you don't meet the high bar, then a permit should not be issued," said Senator Murkowski.

"We know we have an incredible resource in the region already, which is the salmon resource, so you can't trade one resource for another...we had to make sure that the agencies, and the federal government, the White House, everybody was listening to Alaskans," said Senator Sullivan. Later, Senator Sullivan further reiterated his opposition, stating " I oppose Pebble Mine. No Pebble Mine. "

And even more recently, Senator Murkowski reiterated her opposition to Pebble at the 2020 Alaska Federation of Natives Annual Convention stating, "I have been clear throughout that I oppose the project. I recognize the need for new economic development in Southwest Alaska. I think we all do. But I simply think this is the wrong mine in the wrong place." Watch the video of her entire AFN statement on Pebble below.

In November 2020, the Alaska District for the Corps of Engineers rejected PLP's permit application for a Clean Water Act - a "devastating blow" to the project, as reported by the Washington Post. PLP is currently appealing that denial to the Corps' Pacific Ocean Division. In May 2021, the Corps said it could take at least a year to review the appeal.

Regardless of the fate of PLP's appeal, the current mine plan is rife with problems - from its compensatory mitigation plan, water treatment and storage, land ownership concerns, impact on anadromous fish species, and tailings and dam design, to name just a few.
Analysis of Permitting Documents BBNC Letters and Comments Other Resources

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Pebble Mine - Bristol Bay Native Corporation

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EPA accepted public comments on its 2022 Proposed Determination through September 6, 2022. You can read posted comments here. Based on a review of the comments, EPA will release a Recommended Determination by December 2022 and, ultimately a Final Action by the end of 2022 or early 2023.

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Pebble Mine EPA and political administration interaction history

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Pebble Mine EPA and political administration interaction history

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Under President Trump, the Army Corps denied Pebble's request for a discharge permit under the Clean Water Act (CWA). Under President Biden, EPA's Region 10 Office issued a new proposed determination under Section 404 of the CWA that would effectively block the Pebble Mine as currently designed.

Why it Matters

Bristol Bay watershed, located in southwestern Alaska, is home to some of the world's largest runs of wild salmon, including the world's largest sockeye salmon run. The watershed's aquatic habitats support sport and commercial fishing, and many Alaska Natives rely on Bristol Bay to maintain a subsistence-based lifestyle.

The Pebble deposit, which contains large amounts of copper, gold, and molybdenum, is located within the Bristol Bay watershed. Pebble Limited Partnership has proposed to build a large open-pit mine at the Pebble deposit, which could result in discharges polluting the Bristol Bay watershed.

In 2014, EPA proposed restricting the usage of certain waters as disposal sites for mining activities because of the proposed mine's "unacceptable environmental effects" on the Bristol Bay watershed. Under President Trump, EPA withdrew that proposed determination in 2019. However, also under President Trump, the Army Corps denied Pebble's request for a Clean Water Act (CWA) discharge permit based on the project's "substantial environmental impacts."

Current Status

On May 26, 2022, EPA's Region 10 published a new proposed determination under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) that would effectively block the Pebble Mine as proposed. EPA accepted comments on the proposal, and will either withdraw the proposal or issue a Recommended Determination by Dec. 2, 2022.

Previous administrations

Early 2000s Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd., Pebble Limited Partnership's parent company, purchases the mineral rights to and begins exploring the Pebble deposit.

Obama Administration

Jan. 15, 2014 EPA Region 10 releases its final assessment of potential mining impacts on Bristol Bay, stating mining activities "would likely cause irreversible loss of significant reaches of streams that support salmon and other important species."

Feb. 28, 2014 EPA Region 10 announces its decision to initiate a review under Section 404 of the CWA of the potential adverse environmental effects of mining the Pebble deposit. The review is the first step in issuing a proposed determination to protect the Bristol Bay watershed. On May 21, Pebble LP files a suit in the District Court for the District of Alaska, alleging EPA lacks the authority to initiate the determination process before Pebble applied for a mining discharge permit. The court dismisses the suit on Sep. 26, holding the letter could not be reviewed under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), and the Ninth Circuit affirms on May 28, 2015. Pebble Ltd. P'ship v. EPA, et al., No. 3:14-cv-00097 (D. Alaska); Pebble Ltd. P'ship v. EPA et al., No. 14-35845 (9th Cir.).

July 21, 2014 EPA Region 10 publishes its proposed determination to restrict the use of certain waters in Bristol Bay as disposal sites for mining activities.

Sep. 3, 2014 Pebble files suit against EPA, alleging the agency violated the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) in developing the ecological assessment for Bristol Bay. The court grants Pebble's request for a preliminary injunction on Nov. 25, blocking EPA from taking action on its proposed determination until litigation is resolved. On Jan. 4, 2017, the court grants the parties' joint request for a temporary stay. Under President Trump, the parties settle the case and the court dismisses the suit with prejudice on May 12, 2017. Pebble Ltd. P'ship v. EPA, et al., No. 3:14-cv-00171 (D. Alaska).

Oct. 14, 2014 Pebble files another suit challenging EPA's response to Pebble's request for documents under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The court grants partial summary judgment to EPA on Aug. 24, 2015, but rules in favor of Pebble on the remaining elements on Jan. 12, 2016 and orders EPA to reevaluate the withheld documents. The court resolves Pebble's claims on June 28 following EPA's release of additional documents. Pebble Ltd. P'ship v. EPA, No. 3:14-cv-00199 (D. Alaska).

Trump Administration

May 12, 2017 EPA enters into a settlement agreement with Pebble Limited Partnership to resolve the remaining litigation. The agreement requires EPA to begin the process of withdrawing the 2014 proposed determination and that Pebble file a Clean Water Act permit application for the Pebble deposit within 30 months. Pebble Ltd. P'ship v. EPA, No. 3:14-cv-00199 (D. Alaska); Pebble Ltd. P'ship v. EPA, et al., No. 3:14-cv-00171 (D. Alaska). EPA publishes a plan to withdraw the proposed determination on July 19, and the Army Corps acknowledges receipt of Pebble's application on Jan. 5, 2018.

Jan. 26, 2018 EPA announces it is suspending its decision to withdraw the 2014 proposed determination, and solicits further public comment to better understand the environmental impacts of the proposed project's impact on the Bristol Bay watershed.

March 29, 2018 The Army Corps publishes a Notice of Intent to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Pebble Project; issues the Scoping Report on Aug. 31; and releases the DEIS on Feb. 20, 2019. Environmental groups accuse the Corps of fast tracking the process, based on an unusually low number of public hearings, a truncated timeline, and other factors.

June 26, 2019 EPA General Counsel orders the Region 10 Administrator to resume consideration of whether to withdraw the 2014 proposed determination. Earlier that year, on March 22, Administrator Wheeler delegated authority to the General Counsel regarding the Pebble Deposit Area to avoid conflicts of interest. EPA withdraws the 2014 proposed determination on Aug. 30, 2019.

July 1, 2019 EPA sends two comment letters to the Army Corps. The first letter reviews the DEIS under the Clean Water Act, and finds that the project "may have substantial and unacceptable adverse impacts on fisheries resources... of national importance." The second letter reviews the DEIS under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and states the DEIS "appears to lack certain critical information" and that the Army Corps is likely underestimating the proposed mine's environmental impacts. The letters do not request a supplemental EIS, though EPA career staff reportedly requested a supplemental EIS in an earlier draft. The Department of the Interior (DOI) also sends a letter calling on the Army Corps to fully develop the proposed mitigation, management, and reclamation plans in the DEIS and then reassess the project's impacts, noting "the [DEIS] is so inadequate that it precludes meaningful analysis."

Oct. 8-9, 2019 The Bristol Bay Economic Development Corp., Trout Unlimited, and a coalition of environmental groups file suit in the District Court for the District of Alaska challenging EPA's withdrawal of the 2014 proposed determination to restrict mining in Bristol Bay. Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation v. Hladick, No. 3:19-cv-00265-TMB (D. Alaska); Trout Unlimited v. EPA, No. 3:19-cv-00268 (D. Alaska); SalmonState v. Hladick, No. 3:19-cv-00267 (D. Alaska). The court consolidates the cases under Docket No. 3:19-v-00265 on Oct. 13, 2019. On April 17, 2020, the District Court grants EPA's motion to dismiss, holding that EPA's withdrawal of the proposed determination is unreviewable under the APA as an action committed to agency discretion under the CWA. Trout Unlimited appeals the court's decision to the Ninth Circuit on May 29, 2020. Trout Unlimited, et al v. Chris Hladick, No. 20-35504 (9th Cir.).

May 28, 2020 EPA sends a letter to the Army Corps stating EPA will not elevate the permit decision for higher-level review pursuant to the agencies' Clean Water Act Section 404(q) Memorandum of Agreement. However, EPA also states the proposed mine could "contribute to the permanent loss of 2,292 acres of wetlands and other waters."

July 24, 2020 The Army Corps releases the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Pebble mine. Under any alternative considered, the project would permanently impact over 2,000 acres of wetlands and 100 miles of streams. The Army Corps concludes that the cumulative effects on commercial and recreational fisheries would be "minor to moderate."

Aug. 24, 2020 The Army Corps announces that the Pebble Mine cannot be permitted as proposed and instructs Pebble to submit a compensatory mitigation plans within 90 days to offset the mine's "unavoidable adverse impacts to aquatic resources" in Bristol Bay, affecting a total of 3,285 acres of wetlands, 364.2 acres of open waters, and 185 miles of streams. Pebble submits that mitigation plan on Nov. 4, 2020.

Nov. 25, 2020 The Army Corps denies Pebble's request for a discharge permit under Section 404 of the CWA, finding that Pebble's compensatory mitigation plan fails to ensure CWA compliance.

Dec. 4, 2020 Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. shareholders sue alleging that the company and individual executives violated federal securities law by providing false or misleading information about the size and scope of the Pebble Mine. Darish v. Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd., No. 1:20-cv-05917 (E.D.N.Y.).

Biden Administration

Jan. 21, 2021 Pebble files an appeal with the Army Corps regarding the agency's decision to deny Pebble's discharge permit. Pebble claims the denial was rushed and that the Army Corps should rely on the earlier report that found that the mine would have "no measurable effect." The state of Alaska also announced it will appeal the denial. The Corps accepts Pebble's request on Feb. 25.

June 8, 2021 The Pedro Bay Corp., an Alaska Native corporation, enters into a conservation deal with the Conservation Fund to place three conservation easements on 44,000 acres, including the "northern corridor" where Pebble proposed to bring ore from the mine to Cook Inlet. The easements would prohibit any right-of-way agreement with the mine and include restrictions on industrial-scale development.

June 17, 2021 The Ninth Circuit rules that EPA's 2019 decision to remove restrictions on mining in Bristol Bay is subject to judicial review, and that EPA regulations allow the agency to withdraw a proposed determination only when an "unacceptable adverse effect" on specific resources is not "likely." The court remands the case to the district court to determine whether EPA's withdrawal was arbitrary, capricious or an abuse of discretion. Trout Unlimited, et al v. Michelle Pirzadeh, et al, No. 20-35504 (9th Cir.). On Sep. 9, EPA asks the district court to remand and vacate the 2019 withdrawal of the proposed determination, stating that the withdrawal did not meet the Ninth Circuit's standard for unlikely "unacceptable adverse effects." The district court grants EPA's request on Oct. 29, which reinstates the 2014 proposed determination and resets deadlines for EPA to issue a final determination under section 404 of the CWA. Bristol Bay Economic Development Corp., et al, v. Pirzadeh et al, No. 3:19-cv-00265 (D. Alaska).

Nov. 17, 2021 EPA announces it will be extending the timeline for EPA to issue a new determination under 404(c) of the CWA to May 31, 2022. Under section 404(c) of the CWA, EPA must withdraw the proposed determination or prepare a recommended determination within 30 days of the court's decision, absent a showing of "good cause."

Dec. 9, 2021 Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy says he will ask state legislators to support a bid for the state to take over wetlands permitting under section 404 of the Clean Water Act. If successful, the state would control wetlands permitting decisions for the Pebble mine and other mining activities in the state. Under the CWA, a state or tribe can administer the 404 program if EPA determines they have sufficient capacity to do so. The Governor also plans to seek state control over permitting under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).

May 26, 2022 EPA Region 10 issues a new proposed determination to protect waters in Bristol Bay. If finalized, the proposed determination would prohibit or restrict the use of certain waters as disposal sites for dredge or fill material associated with the Pebble mine.

Sep. 6, 2022 EPA Region 10 extends the evaluation period to consider public comments on the proposed determination. EPA will either withdraw the proposed determination or prepare a Recommended Determination by Dec. 2, 2022.

Oct. 28, 2022 The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure releases a report finding Pebble Mine proponents "tried to trick regulators py pretending to pursue a smaller project with the intention of expanding" after approval of the initial proposal. The Committee finds that as top officials testified that Pebble had no plans to expand the mine, Tom Collier, then-CEO of the Pebble partnership, "pitched a much longer-term Pebble Mine to investors." The report urges changes to the project review process and asks the Attorney General to investigate the false statements made to Congress.

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Bristol Bay and the Pebble Mine - Environmental & Energy Law Program - Harvard Law School

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Bristol Bay watershed, located in southwestern Alaska, is home to some of the world's largest runs of wild salmon, including the world's largest sockeye salmon run. The watershed's aquatic habitats support sport and commercial fishing, providing significant economic benefits and employment opportunities to the region.

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The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure response to NDM's hidden intentions

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The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure response to NDM's hidden intentions

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EPA’s response in Bristol Bay- Recommended Determination

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EPA’s response in Bristol Bay- Recommended Determination

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December 1st, 2022. EPA's expressed opposition against Pebble Mine project from predicted environmental impacts

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Announcement of EPA's Recommended Determination 2022

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Announcement of EPA's Recommended Determination 2022

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EPA Takes Next Step in Consideration of Protections for Bristol Bay | US EPA

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EPA News Release: EPA Takes Next Step in Consideration of Protections for Bristol Bay

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EPA's timeline response (Clean Water act)

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EPA's timeline response (Clean Water act)

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Timeline of EPA actions with regard to potential mining activities within the Bristol Bay watershed.

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Anglo American Withdraws from Pebble Project

September 16, 2013, Vancouver, BC - Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. (TSX: NDM; NYSE MKT: NAK) ("Northern Dynasty" or the "Company") reports that Anglo American (US) Pebble LLC ("AA Pebble"), a wholly owned US subsidiary of Anglo American plc ("Anglo American"), has given notice under the Pebble limited partnership agreement that it is withdrawing from the Pebble copper project in Alaska.

Mark Cutifani, Chief Executive of Anglo American, said: "Despite our belief that Pebble is a deposit of rare magnitude and quality, we have taken the decision to withdraw following a thorough assessment of Anglo American's extensive pipeline of long-dated project options. Our focus has been to prioritise capital to projects with the highest value and lowest risks within our portfolio, and reduce the capital required to sustain such projects during the pre-approval phases of development as part of a more effective, value-driven capital allocation model."

As of June 30, 2013, AA Pebble has funded US$541 million of expenditure on the Pebble Project. Following the AA Pebble withdrawal, PLP will proceed under the sole ownership of Northern Dynasty.

In light of the parties' shared desire to ensure an orderly exit, the detailed aspects of AA Pebble's withdrawal from the Pebble project are being developed and implemented.

Northern Dynasty CEO Ron Thiessen commented "Northern Dynasty will again own 100% of one of the world's most important copper & gold resources and will have the benefit of $541 million worth of expenditures, which opens the door to a number of exciting possibilities for Northern Dynasty and its shareholders and the Pebble Project and its stakeholders. Northern Dynasty and the Pebble Partnership have both the expertise and resources necessary to advance the Pebble Project."
About the Pebble Project
The Pebble Project is an initiative of the Pebble Partnership to responsibly develop a globally significant copper, gold and molybdenum deposit in southwest Alaska into a modern, long-life mine, which will benefit not only the owner, but the people, culture and industries of the State of Alaska, as well as suppliers, consultants and industries in the Lower 48 United States of America. A recent study authored by IHS Global Insight, entitled The Economic and Employment Contributions of a Conceptual Pebble Mine to the Alaska and United States Economies found the Pebble Project has the potential to support 15,000 American jobs and contribute more than $2.5 billion annually to US GDP over decades of production. A copy the study is available at www.northerndynasty.com.

The project is located 200 miles southwest of Anchorage on state land designated for mineral exploration and development. It is situated in a region of rolling tundra approximately 1,000 feet above sea-level, 65 miles from tidewater on Cook Inlet and presents favourable conditions for successful mine site and infrastructure development.

About Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd.

Northern Dynasty is a mineral exploration and development company based in Vancouver, Canada, which holds indirect interests in over 600 sq. miles of mineral claims in southwest Alaska, USA. Northern Dynasty's principal asset is the Pebble Project, an advanced-stage initiative to develop one of the world's most important mineral resources.

For further details on Northern Dynasty please visit the Company's website at www.northerndynasty.com or contact Investor services at (604) 684-6365 or within North America at 1-800-667-2114. Review Canadian public filings at www.sedar.com and US public filings at www.sec.gov.
Sole Responsibility No regulatory authority accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Northern Dynasty is solely and entirely responsible for the contents of this news release. No other party, including any parties which have an interest in the project, are in any way responsible for the contents hereof. Forward Looking Information and other Cautionary Factors
This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, especially those that address potential mine feasibility, economic effects, estimated resource quantities, grades and contained metals, are forward-looking statements because they are generally made on the basis of estimation and extrapolation from a limited number of drill holes and metallurgical studies. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in its forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements should not be in any way construed as guarantees of the ultimate size, quality or commercial feasibility of the Pebble Project or of the Company's future performance. The likelihood of future mining at the Pebble Project is subject to a large number of risks and will require achievement of a number of technical, economic and legal objectives, including obtaining necessary mining and construction permits, completion of pre-feasibility and final feasibility studies, preparation of all necessary engineering for an open pit and/or underground workings and processing facilities as well as receipt of significant additional financing to fund these objectives as well as funding mine construction. Such funding may not be available to the Company on acceptable terms or on any terms at all. The mineralization at the Pebble Project has not yet been classified as ore and there is no assurance that it will ever be classified as ore. The need for compliance with extensive environmental and socio-economic rules and practices and the requirement for the Company to obtain government permitting can cause a delay or even abandonment of a mineral project. The Company is also subject to the specific risks inherent in the mining business as well as general economic and business conditions. For more information on the Company, Investors should review the Company's annual Form 40-F filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and its home jurisdiction filings that are available at www.sedar.com.

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Northern Dynasty is advancing the world-class Pebble Project in Alaska towards permitting and development.

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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers rejects Pebble Mine permit

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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers rejects Pebble Mine permit

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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has denied a permit for the massive Pebble Mine project in Alaska - a proposed open-pit copper and gold mine that would be upstream from the world's largest sockeye salmon fishery.

The Corps said in a statement Wednesday that it has determined that the plan "does not comply with Clean Water Act guidelines" and it had concluded that "the proposed project is contrary to the public interest."

Fishermen and tribes have been fighting the mine proposal upstream of Bristol Bay for a decade, fearing it would harm the wild sockeye salmon at the heart of the area's economy and indigenous culture.

The project's outlook became cloudier in August when President Trump's son, Donald Trump, Jr. - an avid fisherman - tweeted his opposition to the mine.

Nanci Morris Lyon, co-owner and operator of Bear Trail Lodge in King Salmon says she got the news by text. "It is an incredible relief. I felt like sitting down and just crying," she says.

Lyon says the prospect of the mine has held the whole region hostage for years. Lodge owners like her didn't know if they could invest in their businesses. Commercial fishermen weren't sure they could buy new boats.

She says Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump had stayed at the lodge about eight years ago.

"I always said that I had faith that after they had visited here and they spent time here, they understood that this place didn't need something like that marring it, scarring it, ruining it forever."

Pebble Limited Partnership CEO John Shively says the company plans to appeal the Corps' decision. He told the Anchorage Daily News that it was a "lost opportunity" and said the company was "dismayed by today's news."

He pointed to conclusions in the Corps' environmental report from July on the mine, which said the project would have no measurable impact on Bristol Bay salmon. But that report was ambiguous, since it also said the mine would harm the area's water resources.

The Corps noted that its review process had taken nearly three years and is "based on all available facts and complies with existing laws and regulations. ... USACE is committed to maintaining and restoring the nation's aquatic resources, while allowing reasonable development."

The Pebble Mine came under increased scrutiny in September when an environmental group released secret recordings in which the then-CEO of Pebble claimed to have swayed politicians into either supporting or keeping mum on the project. Executives also were caught saying that they ultimately planned a much larger mine that they had requested a permit for.

Joel Reynolds of the Natural Resources Defense Council says to ensure that the protections last, the next step is for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to use a particular section of the Clean Water Act "to permanently protect the Bristol Bay watershed from large scale mining for all time."

The Army Corps' decision can be reversed, Reynolds notes, and the company can reapply if they make changes to the project. But with a Biden administration soon to take office, Pebble has little time left for such maneuvers.

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Army Corps of Engineers Denies Permit To Controversial Alaska Gold Mine

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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has denied a permit for the massive Pebble Mine project in Alaska - a proposed open-pit copper and gold mine that would be upstream from the world's largest sockeye salmon fishery.

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Fishing culture of Alaska Native peoples

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Fishing culture of Alaska Native peoples

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Some 7,500 people live in the Bristol Bay region, the vast majority of them Alaska Natives. For thousands of years, the primarily Yup'ik Eskimo, Alutiiq and Athabaskan tribal members of Bristol Bay have typically consumed up to 2.4 million pounds of wild salmon annually. With wild salmon comprising 52 percent of the average Native family's diet, these fish and the clean water they depend on are key to survival in this remote corner of the nation's northernmost state. Besides salmon, berries, caribou, moose, marine mammals, ptarmigan, ducks, geese and wild plants comprise the main subsistence foods for Bristol Bay residents.

Harvesting Bristol Bay wild salmon does more than put food on the table. It helps sustain the economy in a region with high costs and limited employment opportunities. For instance, Alaska Native households that use Bristol Bay wildlife refuges to hunt, fish and gather spend an average of $2,300 per year on subsistence-related equipment. Additionally, non-Native households spend $600 annually for this purpose. Overall, the value of the Bristol Bay subsistence harvest by Alaskan Natives is worth between $77.8 million and $143.1 million.

In addition to salmon, freshwater species provide Bristol Bay residents with year-round opportunities to fish. Between 70 and 100 percent of rural households annually harvest 18,000 to 50,000 pounds of non-salmon fish to supplement their diets. Because subsistence fishing is vital to the nutritional and cultural needs of Alaska Natives in the Bristol Bay region, the rivers, streams, and lakes of this beautiful and incredibly productive watershed must be permanently protected. For generations, Alaska Natives have hunted, fished, thrived and survived on the lands surrounding Bristol Bay and these activities are central to the survival of these indigenous people. As Alaska Natives elders pass traditions and subsistence practices on to their children and grandchildren, they have the right to know that the basis of their way of life for countless generations is secure and will not be squandered.

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Some 7,500 people live in the Bristol Bay region, the vast majority of them Alaska Natives. For thousands of years, the primarily Yup'ik Eskimo, Alutiiq and Athabaskan tribal members of Bristol Bay have typically consumed up to 2.4 million pounds of wild salmon annually.

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Released "Pebble Tapes" of NDM and associates talking about Pebble Mine

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Released "Pebble Tapes" of NDM and associates talking about Pebble Mine

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The Pebble Tapes are a series of recorded conversations between EIA investigators and the Chief Executive Officers of Pebble Limited Partnership and Northern Dynasty Minerals, the companies behind the contested Pebble Mine project in Alaska.

The the tapes are organized by topic and edited for brevity within each topic. Where the investigators' voices can be heard, they have been re-recorded verbatim by an actor.

Topics discussed between EIA investigators and Pebble on a number of other topics including: the Alaska Governor, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Northern Corridor, Alaska senators, Alaska politics, corporate structure, water treatment, Trump Administration and EPA veto. To learn more, read the Press Release.

Watch the overview and complete collection below.

Update October 29, 2020:
EIA Published two new Pebble Tapes. Watch Pebble Tapes #13 and #14 below and read the Press Release
Published September 21, 2020:

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The Pebble Tapes are a series of recorded conversations between EIA investigators and the Chief Executive Officers of Pebble Limited Partnership and Northern Dynasty Minerals, the companies behind the contested Pebble Mine project in Alaska. The the tapes are organized by topic and edited for brevity within each topic.

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Natural Resources Defense Council on Pebble Mine's proposed project impacts

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Natural Resources Defense Council on Pebble Mine's proposed project impacts

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The Pebble Tapes are a series of recorded conversations between EIA investigators and the Chief Executive Officers of Pebble Limited Partnership and Northern Dynasty Minerals, the companies behind the contested Pebble Mine project in Alaska.

The the tapes are organized by topic and edited for brevity within each topic. Where the investigators' voices can be heard, they have been re-recorded verbatim by an actor.

Topics discussed between EIA investigators and Pebble on a number of other topics including: the Alaska Governor, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Northern Corridor, Alaska senators, Alaska politics, corporate structure, water treatment, Trump Administration and EPA veto. To learn more, read the Press Release.

Watch the overview and complete collection below.

Update October 29, 2020:
EIA Published two new Pebble Tapes. Watch Pebble Tapes #13 and #14 below and read the Press Release
Published September 21, 2020:

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The Pebble Tapes are a series of recorded conversations between EIA investigators and the Chief Executive Officers of Pebble Limited Partnership and Northern Dynasty Minerals, the companies behind the contested Pebble Mine project in Alaska. The the tapes are organized by topic and edited for brevity within each topic.

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Northern Dynasty Preliminary Pebble Mine project assessment 2011

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Northern Dynasty Preliminary Pebble Mine project assessment 2011

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Northern Dynasty is advancing the world-class Pebble Project in Alaska towards permitting and development.