| USA. Group to protect Alaska’s fishing & hunting, Nunamta Aulukestai, opposes Pebble Mine |
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| Tuesday, 29 August 2006 | |
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Environmental news: Alaska's Renewable Resources Coalition (RRC), a group formed to protect Alaska's fishing and hunting resources, applauds the move by 13 Bristol Bay Native organizations to fight the development of the proposed Pebble Mine. Last week, Nunamta Aulukestai (Caretakers of Our Land), an association of eight Village Corporations, passed a resolution and called on state and federal leaders to protect the Bristol Bay region from foreign mining companies, and to protect their renewable resources and subsistence lifestyle. "Many of the people who live in the Bristol Bay region have individually voiced opposition to the proposed Pebble Mine in the past, but this is an unprecedented move that sends a resounding, unified message to the Governor, Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Department of the Interior and Alaska's Congressional Delegation to protect this land and the jobs, families and communities it supports," said RRC Chief Operating Officer Scott Brennan. Nunamta Aulukestai also appealed to Gov. Frank Murkowski, Sen. Ted Stevens, Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Rep. Don Young to put Alaskan families and communities ahead of outside special interests. Last week, in addition to the Nunamta action, five Bristol Bay tribes responded to Northern Dynasty's recent water rights applications by calling on Alaska DNR to stop the creation of the proposed Pebble Mine and Bristol Bay Mining District. In a letter sent to DNR, the tribes requested that the department take the following actions: 1. Immediately quantify and reserve sufficient amounts of water required to sustain fish and wildlife and other public interest purposes in key Bristol Bay watersheds; 2. Place a five year moratorium on accepting future applications for water withdrawals, diversions and impoundments for large mining or large developments in key watersheds; 3. Establish a specific and transparent process for state and federal permit reviews equivalent to that used for large hydroelectric projects; and 4. Establish a protected fish and wildlife resource area or areas on state and federal lands in the Nushagak-Mulchatna and Kvichak drainages, including the area subject to Northern Dynasty's applications. In its July 7, 2006, water rights application, Northern Dynasty attempted to claim more than 70 million gallons of water per day (nearly three times the amount used daily in Anchorage), including water from Upper Talarik Creek and the Koktuli River. On July 28, DNR sent the water rights application back to Dynasty for revision and completion. "These actions provide a clear indication that Alaskans are starting to understand Northern Dynasty's tactics of telling locals what they want to hear, then moving ahead with plans to develop anyway," said Brennan. Bristol Bay is home to a $93 million commercial salmon fishery and priceless sport and subsistence fishing resources. The Renewable Resources Coalition is a non-profit corporation formed to protect Alaska's renewable resources and the existing jobs, families and communities they support. The Coalition also seeks to promote awareness of public policy issues that affect the well-being of businesses and individuals that depend upon fish and game resources. Learn more at www.renewableresourcescoalition.org. |
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| Last Updated ( Tuesday, 29 August 2006 ) |
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