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The news that the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) denied permission for the Pebble copper and gold mine was greeted with joy by environmental groups and indigenous peoples who protested vehemently. “A sigh of relief,” Alaska Wilderness League Executive Director Adam Kolton told The Guardian.
The battle for nature has been going on for almost 20 years.
– This victory is not for the politicians but for the indigenous people of Alaska and Bristol Bay, as well as for the hunters, fishermen and nature lovers across the country who have protested against this dangerous and ill-conceived project.
– We can be grateful that our voices have been heard, that science has played a role and that people have earned short-term gains.
USACE writes in a statement that the mining plans are denied based on the environmental protection laws Clean Water Law and Rivers and Ports Law. “The project is against the public interest,” he says. Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski says in a statement that “it is the right decision, that it has been taken on the right path.”
Marc Fink, attorney for a non-profit organization The Center for Biological Diversity says the mine had caused irreparable damage to the southwest area of Alaska. Bristol Bay is one of the largest spawning grounds in the world for Native American salmon. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature, WWF is one of the most productive virgin ecosystems in North America. The mine itself had caused massive damage to nature – the infrastructure to keep it running had destroyed most of nature, WWF writes.
The rich wildlife of Bristol Bay is already threatened by global warming, which is twice as fast in Alaska as it is in the rest of the United States.
Bristol Bay is an important spawning ground for several species of salmon, such as Native American salmon.
Photo: Gary Stewart / AP
The message from the Trump administration described in the American media as a surprise. During his four years in power, the president has removed and weakened a host of environmental regulations, and is now trying to sell oil drilling deals in northern Alaska before Biden takes over.
The Pebble Mine project also seemed ready for completion last year. Then came two difficult setbacks for Northern Dynasty Minerals.
In August, the USACE, which appeared open for approval in July, declared that the harmful effects on nature would be too great. Donald Trump Jr. and former chief of staff Mike Pence urged the president on Twitter to deny permission for the mine. “The springs and fishing waters of Bristol Bay are too unique and sensitive for us to risk it,” wrote the presidential son.
Just as devastating was the scandal as revealed by the Environmental Investigation Agency in September. The environmental group pretended to be potential investors and secretly registered two executives from Northern Dynasty and its subsidiary Pebble Limited Partnership while bragging about their political contacts that would secure the necessary permits. The two men claimed to have access to the White House and have direct contact with the Alaska governor and two senators, the Washington Post reports.
– We can speak with the White House chief of staff whenever we want, but we must be careful with this because everything is recorded, said one of the directors on the recording.
– You do not want it to appear that you are trying to exert undue influence.
John Shively, president of the mining project, told The Guardian he was disappointed with Wednesday’s announcement. “One of the real tragedies is that those who live in the area are losing economic opportunities,” he said in a statement, calling the decision politically motivated.
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