The battle over Alaska’s Pebble Mine is about to get more dramatic
A cluster of spawning sockeye salmon running in the Bristol Bay ecosystem. (Courtesy of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/)This story originally featured on Field & Stream.The battle over Pebble Mine—and the fate of the world’s largest salmon run—is expected to hit a major turning point this month. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ final Environmental Impact Statement, a key document in permitting the controversial mine, may arrive as early as June 15. That document will ultimately present the argument for approving or denying the project’s required Clean Water Act 404 permit, and effectively kill the mine plan or bolster its growing momentum. A final determination on the permit is expected later this year.“Things are getting serious,” says Nelli Williams, Alaska Director for Trout Unlimited. “The massive impacts of this project are now clear. The review process has proven inadequate at best. The permit should not be issued, but only time...