In November of 2020, hunters, anglers, Tribes, commercial fishermen, and conservation advocates across the country cheered the decision to deny the key federal permit to the proposed Pebble mine. Now, we have reached the next step of the process to permanently protect Bristol Bay, Alaska.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the authority to prohibit, restrict or deny mine waste discharge into area waterways if it poses a negative, adverse impact to the local fishery, drinking water resources, or recreation. Tribes, commercial fishermen and outdoor sporting groups first called on EPA to use it’s authority in Bristol Bay since 2010. While the process was initiated over a decade ago, EPA is taking steps in the right direction to finalize Clean Water Act safeguards for water and fish habitat in southwest Alaska.
Last month, EPA announced revisions to previously proposed Clean Water Act protections, triggering a 40 day long national public comment period.
Submit a comment today in support of Clean Water Act protections.
Residents in Bristol Bay overwhelmingly support Clean Water Act protections for the region. In June public hearings, over 90% of testifiers called for EPA to finalize strong and comprehensive protections to ensure Pebble – or other mining companies – cannot come back in the future. Now, is the time to speak up and tell the EPA that we support Clean Water Act protections too.
Hunters, anglers and outdoor recreationists have been loud in the past that Bristol Bay is no place for the Pebble mine due to the nearly guaranteed negative impacts it would cause to the fishery and fish-based businesses in the region. Now, we need to help ensure that Bristol Bay has durable and longstanding protections so that we don’t have to keep fighting Pebble in the future. Join us in taking action today.