Trumps EPA says NO to Pebble Mine

[huntnfmly]

That's good news

[JimmyHoffa]

I'm a Bristol Bay commercial fisherman and I hope the mine is developed. I think it can be done in a way that is compatible with fish and wildlife.

I have the convenience of going to the region to earn part of my living. However the vast majority of the people who live in the region are essentially welfare cases; not because they want to be, but because there are no real jobs in the region. A large mine in the area will provide real, high paying jobs for years to come.

You think it can, or it has been (theoretically) proven that it can? And what if it turns out that it can't? Too late...

The guys I talked to that fished there were about 50/50 on building the mine.  The part of their thinking that made them not 100% against was the Prince William Sound/Exxon Valdez oil spill.  They or people they know got some kinds of settlements from Exxon after the spill.  So, the reasoning was if the mine doesn't destroy salmon, then they can still fish and maybe get in on some other income opportunities in the region; and if it does fail, then they get a settlement and go do something else.  They viewed either outcome as somewhat benefiting them.

[Platensek-po]

I don’t view the destruction of the largest wild salmon run in the world as anything but absolutely disgusting. People betting on a settlement in trade off for that are about as disgusting.

[7mmfan]

I agree, that's a poor perspective. Not surprising though. So many people can't look beyond the end of their own personal needs/wants to see the bigger picture.

[stlusn30-06]

I'm a Bristol Bay commercial fisherman and I hope the mine is developed. I think it can be done in a way that is compatible with fish and wildlife.

I have the convenience of going to the region to earn part of my living. However the vast majority of the people who live in the region are essentially welfare cases; not because they want to be, but because there are no real jobs in the region. A large mine in the area will provide real, high paying jobs for years to come.

You think it can, or it has been (theoretically) proven that it can? And what if it turns out that it can't? Too late...

The guys I talked to that fished there were about 50/50 on building the mine.  The part of their thinking that made them not 100% against was the Prince William Sound/Exxon Valdez oil spill.  They or people they know got some kinds of settlements from Exxon after the spill.  So, the reasoning was if the mine doesn't destroy salmon, then they can still fish and maybe get in on some other income opportunities in the region; and if it does fail, then they get a settlement and go do something else.  They viewed either outcome as somewhat benefiting them.

This is borderline psychopathic rationale. "it might destroy a resource for all future generations, but I might get a 1 time settlement check if that worse case scenario plays out" while some corporation makes literal tons of of money. In all seriousness, if you heard these words, this is one of the sadder things I've read in a while. Willing to give up their own future for a settlement check. wtf

[nwmein199]

Article has a good, brief summary of what has been going on with Pebble Mine

https://www.forbes.com/sites/prakashdolsak/2020/08/29/national-parks-and-pebble-mine-reveal-the-influence-of-competitive-elections-and-conservative-celebrities/#10712f4f67bb

[Camo]

Came across this blurb yesterday, don't have anymore info to back it up.

"In other news, investigative journalists, posing as investors in Pebble Mine, secretly video-taped executives at the Pebble Partnership and Northern Dynasty, as the mining executives revealed intentions and practices that contradict their public statements and their federal application for permitting."

I did find this: https://www.eenews.net/stories/1063714383
Basically flaunting their indirect leverage with the Whitehouse and selling a 20 year plan that is really 180 year plan with four mines, the way I read it.

[OutHouse]

I'm a Bristol Bay commercial fisherman and I hope the mine is developed. I think it can be done in a way that is compatible with fish and wildlife.

I have the convenience of going to the region to earn part of my living. However the vast majority of the people who live in the region are essentially welfare cases; not because they want to be, but because there are no real jobs in the region. A large mine in the area will provide real, high paying jobs for years to come.

You think it can, or it has been (theoretically) proven that it can? And what if it turns out that it can't? Too late...

The guys I talked to that fished there were about 50/50 on building the mine.  The part of their thinking that made them not 100% against was the Prince William Sound/Exxon Valdez oil spill.  They or people they know got some kinds of settlements from Exxon after the spill.  So, the reasoning was if the mine doesn't destroy salmon, then they can still fish and maybe get in on some other income opportunities in the region; and if it does fail, then they get a settlement and go do something else.  They viewed either outcome as somewhat benefiting them.

Those fisherman are entitled to their own views on this, but their reasoning is abjectly weak, selfish, shortsighted, etc. etc. etc. etc.

[Camo]

Update since yesterday....
Collier Out, Shively Back In As Pebble CEO to "Advance Through Regulatory Process"
One day after the release of video tapes showing him describe his close and politically beneficial relationships with elected leaders and regulatory officials in Alaska, Pebble Limited Partnership CEO Tom Collier offered his resignation to the board of Northern Dynasty Minerals, parent company of the Pebble Limited Partnership. Northern Dynasty’s CEO Ron Thiessen, who was also caught on video discussing those relationships and Pebble’s intentions to expand the mine once permitted, offered an apology to “all Alaskans.”

Meanwhile, in the wake of a dozen secret tapes released earlier this week showing Pebble CEO Tom Collier and Northern Dynasty’s CEO Ron Thiessen contradict public statements they’ve made to media, stakeholders, and in federal permit applications, stakeholders are calling for an immediate halt to the federal permitting process.

[full choke]

Update since yesterday....
Collier Out, Shively Back In As Pebble CEO to "Advance Through Regulatory Process"
One day after the release of video tapes showing him describe his close and politically beneficial relationships with elected leaders and regulatory officials in Alaska, Pebble Limited Partnership CEO Tom Collier offered his resignation to the board of Northern Dynasty Minerals, parent company of the Pebble Limited Partnership. Northern Dynasty’s CEO Ron Thiessen, who was also caught on video discussing those relationships and Pebble’s intentions to expand the mine once permitted, offered an apology to “all Alaskans.”

Meanwhile, in the wake of a dozen secret tapes released earlier this week showing Pebble CEO Tom Collier and Northern Dynasty’s CEO Ron Thiessen contradict public statements they’ve made to media, stakeholders, and in federal permit applications, stakeholders are calling for an immediate halt to the federal permitting process.

Those tapes are awesome!
It is like a b-movie where the bad guy lays out his whole plan prior to ending it for the good guy.
You can't make this stuff up!!

[Jake Dogfish]

I'm a Bristol Bay commercial fisherman and I hope the mine is developed. I think it can be done in a way that is compatible with fish and wildlife.

I have the convenience of going to the region to earn part of my living. However the vast majority of the people who live in the region are essentially welfare cases; not because they want to be, but because there are no real jobs in the region. A large mine in the area will provide real, high paying jobs for years to come.

You think it can, or it has been (theoretically) proven that it can? And what if it turns out that it can't? Too late...

The guys I talked to that fished there were about 50/50 on building the mine.  The part of their thinking that made them not 100% against was the Prince William Sound/Exxon Valdez oil spill.  They or people they know got some kinds of settlements from Exxon after the spill.  So, the reasoning was if the mine doesn't destroy salmon, then they can still fish and maybe get in on some other income opportunities in the region; and if it does fail, then they get a settlement and go do something else.  They viewed either outcome as somewhat benefiting them.

Those fisherman are entitled to their own views on this, but their reasoning is abjectly weak, selfish, shortsighted, etc. etc. etc. etc.

Yes shortsighted because at the rate we are destroying the environment all of the fish will be gone soon anyway.

[Bullkllr]

I'm a Bristol Bay commercial fisherman and I hope the mine is developed. I think it can be done in a way that is compatible with fish and wildlife.

I have the convenience of going to the region to earn part of my living. However the vast majority of the people who live in the region are essentially welfare cases; not because they want to be, but because there are no real jobs in the region. A large mine in the area will provide real, high paying jobs for years to come.

You think it can, or it has been (theoretically) proven that it can? And what if it turns out that it can't? Too late...

The guys I talked to that fished there were about 50/50 on building the mine.  The part of their thinking that made them not 100% against was the Prince William Sound/Exxon Valdez oil spill.  They or people they know got some kinds of settlements from Exxon after the spill.  So, the reasoning was if the mine doesn't destroy salmon, then they can still fish and maybe get in on some other income opportunities in the region; and if it does fail, then they get a settlement and go do something else.  They viewed either outcome as somewhat benefiting them.

Those fisherman are entitled to their own views on this, but their reasoning is abjectly weak, selfish, shortsighted, etc. etc. etc. etc.

Yes shortsighted because at the rate we are destroying the environment all of the fish will be gone soon anyway.

That and if they were really concerned about locals having good-paying jobs they could donate their gillnet permits.

[kyle dillehay]

watch this movie if you are interested in how are public lands are at risk...

[Onewhohikes]

Please start another thread on this topic.

[nwmein199]

Meateater released a podcast about the Pebble mine with a guy name Tim Bristol that has been fighting to get the mine stopped for over 10 years. Obviously a biased interview but I think the meat eater crew does a good job of play devils advocate for the discussion.

The Pebble Limited Partnership have been selling it as the worlds largest open mine pit that will only be open for 20 years...reality is 100+ years to actually make a profit. All of this for some gold so people can keep buying crappy jewlery at Wal-mart.

https://www.themeateater.com/listen/meateater/ep-241-a-half-life-of-never