The Pebble Blog : New mineral entry in Bristol Bay region (Updated)

The Pebble Blog

The gigantic Pebble copper and gold prospect in Southwest Alaska is one of the touchiest topics in Alaska today.

In this blog, I'll track news that is significant or interesting about the Pebble project. I'll also try to generate discussion and information sharing about some of the claims and counterclaims about the project, and mining in general.

Please keep your comments courteous and on topic. If you violate the ADN comment policy, your posts will be deleted.

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About Elizabeth Bluemink ebluemink@adn.com

I've been writing about mining in Alaska since 2004 and without a doubt, it is one of the most interesting topics that I cover at the Daily News. I've been a newspaper reporter for the past 10 years. In the Deep South, I specialized in reporting about environmental conflicts and pollution cleanups. For two years, I covered commercial fishing, mining and logging in Southeast Alaska. In my current job as a Daily News business reporter, I write about mining, tourism, Native corporations and other businesses.

New mineral entry in Bristol Bay region (Updated)

Posted by Elizabeth Bluemink

Posted: November 17, 2008 - 9:45 am

Comments (0) |

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has decided to open a large swath of land in the Bristol Bay region to mineral entry and oil and gas drilling.

Here's the story I wrote about it for Tuesday's paper.

I've also written about the matter, when it was still pending, in several articles including this one. The plan has been heavily protested by fishermen and Native organizations who worry over the creation of a massive mining district linked to the copper and gold Pebble project. The BLM says that's unlikely because the mineral potential on the land is poor. Also, the BLM says it has no legal justification for keeping the land off limits.

To read the BLM decision and related documents, go here.

I also obtained a map from DNR of where mineral exploration is occurring now on adjacent state land. I'm attaching that map below.