Take Action

Join the State of Alaska, Resource Development Council, Alaska Native village and tribal groups and concerned citizens in response to the EPA's Bristol Bay Watershed Assessment.

The EPA has refused to extend their public comment period despite numerous requests for more time to read, digest and evaluate this lengthy and controversial document.

PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE DUE BY JULY 23, 7:59 PM, ALASKA TIME.
Click here to submit your comments.

10 Points to consider about the EPA's assessment:

  1. Premature conclusions based on hypothetical scenarios - the EPA can't evaluate a plan that hasn't yet been submitted.
  2. Unprecedented - the EPA has never used CWA 404c authority to stop a project before any plans have been submitted or permits applied for.
  3. Rush job - what's the hurry? The EPA has taken 10 years for other studies, but spent just over one year on this one.
  4. Unfair - all projects deserve equal treatment and access to the established regulatory process.
  5. Federal intrusion - the pebble deposit is on state lands designated for mineral exploration and development.
  6. Huge assessment area - the EPA tried to study an area larger than West Virginia, with few resources and little time.
  7. Biased authors - the assessment relies heavily on testimony from anti-pebble groups who publically oppose any mining projects in the area.
  8. No original science - instead of conducting field research, the EPA relied on outdated reports and data sources that aren't relevant to Alaska
  9. Power grab - the EPA is cutting in line ahead of the Army Corps of Engineers and other agencies within the permitting process.
  10. Faulty assumptions - though highly unlikely, the assumption that all neighboring mining claims will be developed is built into the risk assessment.