A good starting point for an objective look at the problems presented by the proposed Pebble mine is a technical background report prepared by an independant scientific team. Also, a new report on a serious acid mine drainage problem at the proposed Pebble mine has just been released by our technical team.

A report on the impacts of the proposed mine on the water quality and quantity in the Bristol Bay watershed nearest the mine is also available.

Finally, we recommend reading how underground mining using the block caving method actually works and the minimal benefits of that methodology over open pit mining relative to the impacts on area water and hydrology.

For a primer on the Geology of hard rock sulfide deposits such as Pebble, please see Pebble Engineering Geology by Dr. David Chambers.

SEE THE FIRST PHOTOS OF PEBBLE POLLUTION - Does this violate the Clean Water Act?

FIRST HAND EVIDENCE THAT THE POLLUTION OF THE BRISTOL BAY WATERSHED HAS BEGUN...AND THEY HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED THE MINE YET.

Drill rig hose dumping grey slurry into the tundra, Pebble East. June, 2006

These pictures were all taken in June of this year (2006) by Erin McKittrick

.........
Drill rig being set up at Pebble East; and, Oily mess left behind at an old drill rig site, Pebble East.

........
Close up of oily mess; and, drill rig hose crossing tundra killed by leaky hose.

Drill rig hose dumping grey slurry into the tundra, Pebble East.

Blast crater in the tundra, tailings lake area.

Drill rig hose dumping grey slurry into the tundra, Pebble East.

"Northern Dynasty will [a]pply the highest quality environmental management standards to all study,
development, construction and operational activities."
Source: http://www.ndmpebblemine.com/responsible_mining/corporate_policy

Apparently what they "say" and what they "do" are two different things.

AND

Just so you remember what clean water in the Upper Talarik Creek and Koktuli River looks like
before such pollution gets to them, see below:

Upper Talarik Creek - June, 2006

Koktuli River at the outlet of Frying Pan Lake - June, 2006

*Note: All photos courtesy of Erin McKittrick

Amazing 2006 Journey on Troubled Waters

Photo story of Erin McKittrick about her 450 mile trek along waters endangered by the Pebble Mine.

As Erin states on her website "The Pebble Mine project is a controversial proposal by Northern Dynasty Minerals to build one of the largest gold and copper mines in the world, in southwest Alaska, near Lake Iliamna. Northern Dynasty has not yet applied for permits. Their current proposal involves both a large open pit and an underground mine, as well as removal of the water from the headwaters of Upper Talarik Creek and the Koktuli River (important fish habitats). The site sits at the headwaters of two major Bristol Bay drainages (Nushagak and Kvichak), and potentially poses a large threat to the region's salmon. This proposal has become a major political issue in Alaska, pitting pro-mining forces against local native villages and commercial and sport fishermen."

For the Full Story of an Amazing Journey on Troubled Waters by Erin McKittrick see
http://www.aktrekking.com/pebble/WatershedsTrekStory.html and for a complete set of Pebble mine site photos taken in 2006, click here.

And, for some of the best photographs of the Bristol Bay watershed see
http://www.aktrekking.com/pebble/index.html ; and for an interactive map of her trip and to see exactly where each photograph was taken, click here.

Route of the "Amazing Journey"