Indicate which actions have been carried out to implement this Resolution :
Policy influencing/advocacy
Describe the results/achievements of the actions taken:
In December of 2017, Pebble submitted its first Clean Water Act 404 dredge and fill of wetlands permit application to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which kick-started the federal permitting and environmental review process. Per this initial permit application, Pebble seeks to develop the first 1.5 billion tons of its nearly 11-billion-ton deposit and set the stage for future expansion into nearby areas and ultimately the start of a mining district in Bristol Bay. The mine and supporting facilities will run continuously for 24 years, and Pebble has stated that this mine could run for generations.
The project, as proposed in Pebble’s Army Corps permit application, includes the following:
● Plans to mine a 1-mile-wide and one-third-of-a-mile deep pit;
● Destroy over 3,000 acres of wetlands and more than 21 miles of salmon streams at the mine site located in the headwaters of Bristol Bay’s world-class salmon run (plus destroy at least an additional 1,000 acres of wetlands and impact hundreds of streams from the road and pipeline);
● Construct a massive tailings storage facility, treatment ponds, and associated dams and embankments blocking and inundating salmon streams;
● Construct a private two-lane 83-mile-long road with more than 200 stream crossings and 8 large bridges;
● Develop an ice-breaker barge system across Lake Iliamna with two lakeside terminals;
● Develop a private and large Port facility on Cook Inlet near salmon streams and extending more than 4 miles into the inlet waters and known habitat for sea otters, beluga whales, humpback whales, and seals;
● Build and operate a 270-megawatt power plant (with two additional 2mw plants at the port) approximately 15 miles upwind from Lake Clark National Park;
● Lay a 188-mile-long natural gas pipeline over land and under the Cook Inlet and Iliamna Lake;
● At closure, backhaul the 1.1 billion tons of tailings waste into the pit, to be monitored and maintained in perpetuity.
What challenges/obstacles have been encountered in the implementation of this Resolution and how were they overcome :
The Trump Administration has maintained its push to permit the Pebble Mine. In fact, US Army Corps of Engineers staffers were deemed “essential” and continued to work to complete the Draft Environmental impact Statement during the recent government shutdown. We anticipate that the DEIS will be released on or about February 22 with a public comment period to follow. The ACOE continues its unprecedented break-neck pace with the stated goal of completing the EIS and Record of Decision by the spring of 2020.
Briefly describe what future actions are needed for the implementation of this Resolution:
The public comment period will probably extend for 90 days and will include public hearings around Alaska. Opponents of the mine are working to convey their concerns to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, members of Congress, the U.S. EPA, the President and, Alaska’s new Governor. Commenting on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) is the last formal opportunity for the public to relate their concerns about the project to the lead permitting agency.
Are these actions planned for yet:
