Stories and Articles
Stories from my journeys in the prospective Pebble Mine region, and articles on the key issues
I'm on a 9 month expedition from Seattle to the Aleutian Islands, exploring environmental issues along the way. I'll be revisiting Pebble in the course of this journey in January 2008. Follow along on the journey blog
The Pebble Mine project is a controversial proposal by Northern Dynasty Minerals to build one of the largest gold and copper mines in the world, in southwest Alaska, near Lake Iliamna. Northern Dynasty has not yet applied for permits, but their current proposal involves both a large open pit and an underground mine, as well as removal of the water from the headwaters of Upper Talarik Creek and the Koktuli River ( important fish habitats). The site sits at the headwaters of two major Bristol Bay drainages ( Nushagak and Kvichak), and potentially poses a large threat to the region's water and salmon. This proposal has become a major political issue in Alaska, pitting pro-mining forces against local native villages and commercial and sport fishermen.
Where Threatened Waters Flow: Downstream of the Pebble Mine
Photo essay from a 500 mile hiking/rafting trip through the length of the watersheds downstream of Pebble Mine, 2006.
Water Quality at Mines: Implications for Pebble
Review of the Earthworks Study on the permitting process and water quality at mines, as it relates to the Pebble project.
Updates from my 2006 trek through the Pebble Mine watersheds (as published en route in the Bristol Bay Times)
Review of Northern Dynasty's November 2006 meeting with Seattle fishermen, with audio available for download.
Photo essay of my 2005 trip to the prospective mine site (as published by the Environment News Service)
Analysis of whether a mining claim gives Northern Dynasty the "right to mine".
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All content by Erin McKittrick, copyright 2006-2007. Contact me with comments or questions at mckittre at gmail dot com.
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Last modified: 2/11/2007