4
For the sake of the sockeye salmon
Salmon fishermen casting hooks
To view this content, Javascript must be enabled and Adobe Flash Player must be installed.
TEXT OF STORY
Scott Jagow: People who live in Alaska are voting today. One measure on the ballot would limit pollution from mining operations so it wouldn't threaten salmon fisheries. But Some people say this is really about trying to stop the construction of a huge copper and gold mine. Emily Schwing reports from Homer, Alaska.
Emily Schwing: The proposed Pebble mine would be located at the headwaters of Bristol Bay, home to the largest salmon run in the world. The Bay supplies more than half of the sockeye salmon to the global market and brings $126 million to the Alaskan economy each year.
Catie Bursch has been fishing there for over 20 years:
Catie Bursch: Yeah, as far as balancing the economics, really all you have to know is a mine is a nonrenewable resources. They go in and get the minerals and then its done -- it's gone and you deal with the pollution.
John Shively is the CEO of the Pebble Mine's Partnership Group. He says the statewide ballot initiative was drafted to specifically target his mine, and that's unconstitutional.
John Shively: The proposal has been promoted as a way to stop the Pebble mine. If it can shut down Pebble, it can obviously stop or shut down other mines.
And any shutdown is a big concern in a state with a $4 billion mining industry.
In Homer, Alaska, I'm Emily Schwing for Marketplace.
Mr. John,
I simply believe the story was too short to do true justice to the complex issues involved. Making it a simple mining industry vs. environmentalists story was I think unfair. Far too often the mention of environmentalism causes people to have a negative view of an issue. The Pebble Mine, should it be created would certainly have a financial benefit to the people of Alaska, but I think the benefits are far overblown (as are the benefits of most large projects anywhere). The issue is not as simple as saying Pebble Mine + Slamon Fishing = $$$$. Instead it will be Pebble Mine - Salmon Fishing = $$$. So the people of Alska need to be certain Pebble is going to provide them with everything they are getting from the Salmon and Sporting industries plus more. My position is, quite simple. There comes a point when we say enough development is enough and we are going to leave some areas wild, no ifs, ands or buts. I know this position is monumentally unpopular in this day and age, but there it is.
The issue is not quite as black and white as your story would have the public believe. The Pebble Mine will be the largest open pit mine in the world. More than 2.5 miles across and more than 1200' deep. The toxic lakes created by this mine will be held back by an earthen dam larger than the Three Gorges Dam in China (which is made of traditional concrete). The mine is opposed not just by "environmentalists", but by Native American groups and Sportsmens advocacy groups (Trout Unlimited and others). In the future please present a story which provides a more balanced view of the issues involved.
http://www.sportsmansalliance4ak.org/Issues/Issues_Bristol_Bay.html
http://www.renewableresourcescoalition.org/TUPebbleStory.pdf
http://www.savebristolbay.org/site/c.gqLTI4OzGlF/b.2000555/k.BE39/Home.htm
http://www.orvis.com/intro.asp?subject=4571&CampaignID=286&ADV=99652&cm_...
