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Controversial Pebble Mine project goes to court

July 30, 2009
This photo from August 2008 shows one area of the exploration underway in Alaska for the Pebble mine project. The photo was provided by Trustees for Alaska, a public interest law firm that works on environmental issues in the state.

Anchorage, Alaska--A Bristol Bay Alaska Native organization, along with several individuals including the state's former First Lady Bella Hammond, filed a civil suit on Wednesday, asking the court for a preliminary injunction that would effectively stop progress on the controversial Pebble Mine project.

According to a media release, the suit, filed in Anchorage Superior Court, claims that the Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) repeatedly violated the state constitution when granting permits for Pebble Mine exploration.

"DNR has neglected its legal and moral obligation to protect Bristol Bay's subsistence resources," said Bobby Andrew, spokesman for the Nunamta Aulukestai (Caretakers of Our Land) organization, one of the lead plaintiffs in the case. "Current exploration is having a serious impact on water and wildlife, yet the agency continues to rubber-stamp permits and ignore the public interest."

Plaintiffs want the court the issue a preliminary injunction prohibiting the state from granting or extending permits for exploration or water use by the Pebble Limited Partnership.

If granted, the injunction would effectively stop further exploration on the Pebble Mine until the court makes a final decision, or until the Alaska State Legislature enacts new laws regarding on-shore mining exploration.

Plaintiffs are also asking the court to void all exploration permits already issued by the DNR to the Pebble Limited Partnership, Pebble East Corp. and Pebble West Corp.

The Pebble Limited Partnership is a joint venture between Northern Dynasty Partnership and Anglo American US (Pebble) LLC, wholly owned by mining company Anglo American.

The project calls for construction of the world's largest open-pit copper and gold mine in North America, extending over more than 30 square miles of the Bristol Bay watershed.

Some of the world's most productive salmon spawning rivers flow into Bristol Bay, which supports the biggest commercial sockeye salmon fishery in the world.

While the Pebble Limited Partnership claims the project will bring much-needed jobs to the area, local residents argue that it will destroy the environment and harm the fishing industry.

A number of well-known jewelry companies, including Tiffany and Co. and Helzberg Diamonds, already have signed a pledge stating they will boycott any gold from the mine if it is constructed.

According to the partnership's Web site, Pebblepartnership.com, the project is still in its early stages.
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