The Pebble Blog : Dillingham vote on Pebble

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.

Dillingham vote on Pebble

Posted by Elizabeth Bluemink

Posted: January 11, 2010 - 12:41 pm

The Dillingham City Council voted 5-1 last Thursday to oppose "all large scale mining" including Pebble in the Nushagak and Mulchatna rivers watershed. The drainages empty into Bristol Bay below Dillingham.

The city council also voted against applying for or accepting grants from the Pebble Fund, a charitable endowment for Bristol Bay community organizations created by the companies attempting to develop Pebble.

The Bristol Bay Times explained that the city council already opposes Pebble, but decided to vote on whether it would accept money from the Pebble Fund. The issue came up after a local hockey group received such a grant, and wanted the city to channel the money.

The story quoted Dillingham Mayor Alice Ruby as saying:

"No one testified that they wanted the city to take a position to support the mine, but several testified passionately that we should accept all the money available even though we oppose the mine. Others, just as passionately, felt that the city should be true to the principal and adopt the resolution."

You can read the resolution here.