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While offering no verdict about whether the project should moveforward, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Fridayreleased a draft watershed assessment that described the damagethat could befall some of the world s premier salmon fisheries ifa huge gold and copper prospect near the headwaters of Bristol Bayfailed and released contaminants. EPA s draft study does not provide an in-depth assessment of thePebble project, but instead assesses the potential environmentalimpacts associated with mining activities anticipated at the hugesite on state land. The Pebble Partnership, the group behind the proposed mine,describes the deposit as potentially one of the largest in theworld. It is estimated to hold 81 billion pounds of copper, 107million ounces of gold and 5 billion pounds of molybdenum thatwould be mined over the coming decades. Because of that value and the value of the Bristol Bay fishery, thelargest wild salmon run in the world, the project has been thesubject of a heated public relations battle for years. Supporters point to the jobs the mine would bring torural Alaska, but opponents fear it could fundamentally change thelandscape and disrupt lives now centered around the harvest ofsalmon. The report said that if water from the mine is not managedproperly, contaminants could flow into streams. Even if there is nodisaster involving the mine, the agency said there would still havean impact on fish, including the removal of wetlands and areduction in the amount and quality of fish habitat due to thewater used for mine operations. Unsurprisingly, the Pebble Partnership is dissatisfied with theEPA's report. In a prepared statement, Pebble CEO John Shivelycalled the process rushed and inadequate. Shively has questionswhether the EPA could really have done a thorough job giving only ayear of studied attention to a region nearly 20,000 square mileslarge. The Pebble deposit is located on State of Alaska lands that areopen to mineral exploration and development, Shively said in acompany press release. As such, the State has expressed strongobjection about the entire process the EPA is undertaking in thisarea. At Statehood, the federal government granted Alaska access tolands in order to develop an economy for the new state. Federalintrusions such as those facilitated by the EPA s watershedassessment initiative clearly strike at the heart of the agreementbetween the state and the federal government, and could have achilling effect on future resource development investments inAlaska. Pebble is worried the EPA will try to block the project, and thatif it does any such interference will be premature and based onincomplete information. Yet blocking the project is exactly what Alaska commercial fishinggroups are urging the EPA to do, calling on the agency to upholdstandards under the Clean Water Act and take action to protect thefishery. The EPA s scientific report makes it clear Pebble Mine s planto dig a hole displacing 10 billion tons of waste material is badfor Bristol Bay s fish and salmon habitat, Lindsey Bloom, aleader of Commercial Fishermen for Bristol Bay, said in a pressrelease. The EPA should take the next logical step and prohibitor restrict toxic mine waste in the Bristol Bay watershed. Though the return varies year to year, Bristol Bay can see annualruns of as many as 40 million red salmon. Too many American fisheries have been wrecked by habitat damageand chemical pollution, added Robin Samuelsen of Dillingham inthe same release. This may be our country s last chance to getit right the first time. This is a developing story. Check back for additional information. I am an expert from ipl-laser-machine.com, while we provides the quality product, such as China Laser Beauty Machine , Microneedle Fractional RF, Laser Beauty Machine,and more.
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