The Trump Administration Denies Permission to Exploit a Pebble Mine in Alaska

The US administration on Wednesday rejected a permit for the controversial Pebble Mine gold mine in southwestern Alaska. The decision by Donal Trump’s government could be a fatal blow to the effort to build the giant project near the world’s largest wild sockeye fishery in Bristol Bay.

The Trump administration could unblock the situation of the Pebble Beach gold mine project in Alaska. This important deposit is located in an area to which Obama granted special environmental protection. After he arrived at the White House, Trump promised to remove that protection. So, this deposit which contains gold worth more than 100 billion dollars, could be exploited commercially.

The mine’s developers plan to appeal the decision to federal regulators. Still, with Opposition from President-elect Joe Biden and many others, the project days may be limited. 

The United States Army Corps of Engineers determined that the applicants plan for the discharge of landfill material does not comply with the guidelines of the Clean Water Act. It concludes that the proposed project is contrary to the public interest, said Colonel Damon Delarosa, Walla Walla District Commander.

Moreover, Delarosa said the agency’s denial limits a nearly three-year review process of the potential project that involves multiple agencies.

Groups that have fought against the exploitation of the Pebble project quickly praised the news.

Senator Dan Sullivan stated that Pebble had to meet a high barrier for them not to trade one resource for another. And Pebble did not meet that requirement.

Pebble’s longtime critics called the decision a victory for many sectors. They include tourism, sport fishing, commercial fishing, and Alaska Native villages that need salmon for food. In fact, they said Pebble’s plan was half-done and that the mine would have devastated the fishery.

Politically motivated decision?

Nelli Williams, director of Trout Unlimited in Alaska, stated that opposition to this project from all corners of the political spectrum is strong and deep. The science is clear, the process has evolved, and there is no way this ill-conceived project can coexist with Bristol Bay salmon. 

For his part, John Shively, CEO of the Pebble Partnership, called the decision a missed opportunity. Particularly, for Alaska and the people of the region. The mine could have produced billions of dollars in its lifetime. As well as hundreds of Alaska jobs, and minerals of critical national importance to renewables such as copper.

Pebble’s parent company, Northern Dynasty Minerals, called the decision politically motivated and fundamentally not supported by the administrative record developed during the review process.