Press Statement: Alaskan Voices are Heard on Pebble at Federal Level, But We Demand More.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 19, 2019

Anchorage, AK- Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed amendment 90, being called the “Huffman Amendment,” to the Energy and Water Appropriations Act (H.R. 2740) bill that would suspend funding for permitting of the proposed Pebble mine in federal fiscal year 2020. The Alaska Center salutes Representative Huffman and House members for taking decisive action to protect our clean water by putting a halt to the flawed Pebble Mine permitting process.

For over a decade Alaskans across the state have expressed overwhelming opposition to the Pebble Mine. This project would risk 14,000 jobs, thousands of acres of critical wetlands, and pose an irreversible threat to the way of life for many Alaskans whose history spans millennia in the Bristol Bay region. During recent hearings in Alaska, 75% of the Alaskans who testified were in opposition to the Pebble Mine. This is clearly not a development that is considering the impacts on and the desires of the Alaskan people.

The Army Corps of Engineers’ Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) is quickly reaching the end of the comment deadline. The DEIS is a rushed, incomplete and inadequate document and fails to account for all of the mine’s potential impacts. It is another example of how Alaskan voices are not at the decision-making table when it comes to our resources.

“Since we cannot rely on the Army Corps or the Pebble Partnership to be fair and thorough, we must rely on members of Congress to stand with Alaskans and question this flawed and deceptive permitting process.” – Executive Director, Polly Carr.

While we are grateful for the actions of Representative Huffman and House members, we ask Senator Murkowski to stand with Alaskans and use her power to oppose the Pebble Mine. It is time that our leadership work for a sustainable Alaska for all and protect our communities from the loss of Alaskan livelihoods, health, and heritage.

The Alaska Center is a local non-profit representing 35,000 Alaskan members that engages, empowers, and elects Alaskans to stand up for our clean air and water, healthy communities, and a strong democracy