Who:

• The company exploring the claim is Northern Dynasty Minerals, a Canadian company based in Vancouver, BC.
• The piece of Northern Dynasty Minerals running the Pebble Project is called Northern Dynasty Mines.
• Bruce Jenkins is the Northern Dynasty COO, Ken Brower is the head engineer (working for NDM through Knight Piesold Consulting), Stephen Day does the water quality studies, Mike Smith does permitting, and Jim Buell is the fisheries guy.
• They've spent $132 million already on exploration
• Northern Dynasty doesn't operate any mines now - the only thing they're doing is exploration at Pebble.
• about 10% of the company is owned by Rio Tinto, a major worldwide mining company.

When:

• NDM is applying for some permits right now (October 2006) - notably water rights and dam permits.
• Exploration efforts continue, and they say the earliest they'll apply for major permits is the end of 2007 or early 2008d
• The BLM is also planning to open its land in the area to mining, and comments on their draft proposal are due January 5.

Why:

• Metal ores are common throughout the Bristol Bay region and the Alaska Peninsula, due to the area's volcanic history.
• We've known about the ores for decades, but the remote location and low grade of the ore prevented development.
• In the past few years, metal prices have doubled or tripled, largely due to investments, making development of these ores suddenly worthwhile.
• Mining companies around the world are setting their sights on Southwest Alaska.

Fish and wildlife:

Opposition:

• See the Pebble Mine scorecard for the most thorough list of those groups opposed to and supporting the Pebble project.
• Major forces opposing the mine include local native communities and organizations, fishing interests, environmental groups, and concerned citizens.
• Senator Ted Stevens has expressed his opposition to the mine, saying he's "very disturbed by the prospect"
• Most native communities and organizations in the area oppose the Pebble Mine and all large-scale mining in the area, including Nondalton, New Stuyahok, Koliganek, Dillingham, Kakhanok, Ekwok, Aleknagik, Manokotak, Togiak, Clarks Point, and Port Alsworth.
• Sample resolutions opposing the mine from Nunumta Aulukestai (Caretakers of Our Land) - a council of 8 local native corporations, and the Bristol Bay Native Association (a regional native corporation serving 31 tribes).
• Commercial and sport fishing interests opposing the mine include the Alaska Independent Fishermen's Marketing Association, Fly Fisherman Magazine, and the Alaska Wilderness Recreation & Tourism Assoc.
• Environmental groups working on the issue include the Renewable Resources Coalition, Trout Unlimited, the Bristol Bay Alliance, and American Rivers, and the National Wildlife Federation.
• Other notable opponents include the Anchorage Daily News, Alaska Magazine, and the chairman of the American Conservative Union.
• Polling data: 70% of local residents oppose the mine. Statewide, 53 percent of voters say they are opposed to the opening of Pebble Mine, 28 percent are in favor and 19 percent are undecided.
• New Governor Sarah Palin hasn't taken a clear stance yet.
• but the state of Alaska has never yet denied a mining permit.

Mining's track record

• Mining is the most polluting industry in the country ( EPA Toxics Release Inventory).
• Major threats to water include acid mine drainage, cyanide spills, and heavy metal pollution.
• Fish are especially sensitive to heavy metals in the water (more than people).
• A recent study shows that 76% of the U.S. mines surveyed exceeded water quality standards, polluting rivers and groundwater. 100% of the mines similar to Pebble polluted the water. Find the full report here.
• According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), mine waste has contaminated more than 40 percent of the headwaters of western watersheds.
• The underground block caving proposed at Pebble East, is as risky as the open pit mine proposed for Pebble East: Download document on the risks of Block Caving at the Proposed Pebble Mine

Economics:

• Northern Dynasty estimates there is $150 to $200 billion worth of minerals in the ground, mostly copper and gold, though it can't all be recovered (current estimate from Bruce Jenkins, NDM COO, November 2006).
• Over 70% of the demand for gold is for gold jewelry, and the US is the second largest market (after India), for such jewelry (data from the World Gold Council)
• Compared to other industries, mining gives almost nothing back to state and local governments. Mining Taxes vs. Oil and Gas Taxes "State revenue from mining generally amounts to only about 0.7% of the mined resource value, while an additional 1% is paid to municipalities. State revenue from oil and gas amounts to about 20% of total production value, while an additional 2% is paid to municipalities. State revenue from fisheries amount to about 2.8% of the total production value, while an additional 2.5% is paid to municipalities, excluding property tax, vessel and license fees."
  - Alaska state rep Paul Seaton.
• Jobs dependent on Bristol Bay fish and wildlife bring in $175 million in annual payroll. Economics of Bristol Bay's Fisheries
• Having a mine claim does not give Northern Dynasty a right to mine. The state can deny permits without paying Northern Dynasty anything.

the Federal Issue

• The BLM is proposing to open all of it's land in Bristol Bay (including a lot of land close to the main stems of the Nushagak and Kvichak Rivers) to hardrock mining, paving the way for many more large open pit mines in these salmon-rich watersheds.

• "Environmental Risks: Unexpected environmental damage from spills, accidents and severe acts of nature such as earthquakes are risks which may not be fully insurable and if catastrophic could mean the total loss of shareholders' equity." (Source: Northern Dynasty's 2004 Annual Report, Pg. 9, June 30, 2004, www.sedar.com)


• "Northern Dynasty's Management May Not Be Subject to U.S. Legal Process. As Canadian citizens and residents certain of Northern Dynasty's directors and officers may not subject themselves to U.S. legal proceedings, so that recovery on judgments issued by U.S. courts may be difficult or impossible." (Source: Northern Dynasty's 2004 Annual Report, Pg. 9, June 30, 2004, www.sedar.com)


• Drilling in Upper Talarik Creek? "We made a commitment to stay out of the Upper Talarik Creek because it is sensitive fish habitat." -Ella Ede, Northern Dynasty, (Source: Lake Dumping in Pebble's Future? Hal Spence, Kenai Peninsula Clarion, July 5, 2005.)
  "'Forget it,' Jenkins said he told company engineers. 'I said leave Upper Talarik Creek alone.'" -Bruce Jenkins, Northern Dynasty, (Source: Golden Jitters: Massive Mine Worries Locals Paula Dobbyn, Anchorage Daily News. October 18th, 2004.)
  "They have and are doing some drilling in the Upper Talarik Creek Watershed. (Source: -Division of Mining Land and Water, Alaska Department of Natural Resources, describing Northern Dynasty activities as of July 11, 2005.)
  
  July 2006 - Northern Dynasty applies for water rights permits to remove all the water in the headwaters of Upper Talarik Creek. (Source: Alaska DNR)

  What	Where	Who	When	Why
  Fish and Wildlife	Opposition	Mining's Track Record	Economics	Federal Issue