Published on January 14th, 2010

Dillingham passes resolution opposing Pebble

By TAMMY JUDD

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The Dillingham City Council passed a resolution last week that opposes the proposed Pebble copper/gold mine in the Bristol Bay area.

Dillingham Mayor Alice Ruby said this is not a change in position on the Pebble mine, but it extended the position to include receipt of any money from the Pebble Fund. She clarified that the resolution is exclusive to the City of Dillingham and doesn't affect other organizations in the community.

Ruby said the resolution came about after a local hockey group received a grant from the Pebble Fund to design a cover over its hockey rink. They wanted to channel the funds through the City of Dillingham. A resolution was presented at the December meeting but died for a lack of a motion.

The council decided to consider a position on the Pebble funding. During its discussion, council members mentioned an appreciation for the position recently taken by Bristol Bay Native Corp., which last month said it could no longer take a neutral stance and opposed the development of the mine. The mayor said council members felt it took great strength and principle to take that position.

The testimony was interesting, Ruby said.

"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," Ruby said.

The resolution passed with five "yes" votes and one "no" vote.

Resolution No. 2010-05 states Dillingham's "economy depends on serving a major hub and port for the world's largest commercial wild salmon fishery."

The resolution explains that the value of the fishery totals about $100 million a year; that the commercial wild salmon fishery has been the backbone of livelihoods for more than 100 years; that the future of the renewable resource industry depends on its freshwater stream reputation; that local residents depend on subsistence activities which in turn depend on Bristol Bay's pristine freshwater streams and habitat.

It continues to state that the activities of a large-scale mine prove a risk of contaminating the air, water and terrain; the Pebble Partnership's proposed mine is at the headwaters of the Koktuli River, which is a spawning stream for the Nushagak king salmon and other salmon species and freshwater trout; the headwaters of the Koktuli River, which would be the primary, permanent storage site for the tailings pond of the proposed mine, is in the "Ring of Fire," an area susceptible to volcanic eruptions and earthquakes; and the City of Dillingham is located at the mouth of the Nushagak/Mulchatna watershed where the Koktuli River drains.

The resolution also says that the City of Dillingham would feel a significant impact on any adverse effect caused by the proposed mine, so the City Council resolved to support and encourage economic development and growth, as long as it does not endanger its residents' livelihood or renewable resources; it resolved to oppose all large-scale mining including the proposed Pebble mine within its watershed; and it resolved not to apply for or accept funds from the Pebble Fund because of its relationship with the Pebble Partnership.

Tammy Judd can be reached at tammy@alaskanewspapers.com, or by phone at

 

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