The Environmental Protection Agency’s final determination vetoes the proposed Pebble Mine
Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) used its 404(c) authority under the Clean Water Act to stop the approval and ultimate construction of the Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay, Alaska. The EPA’s final determination effectively vetoes Pebble Mine, citing concerns about the impacts of mining waste and discharge on Bristol Bay’s renowned salmon fishery.
The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) lauds this decision and is grateful to the EPA for acting to secure clean waters throughout Bristol Bay for years to come. Stopping the development of this mine was a team effort among Alaskans, tribes, the outdoor recreation community, partner organizations and the millions of anglers and sportsmen and women throughout the country.
“The EPA’s final determination will protect the iconic fisheries of Bristol Bay from the impacts of mining waste, extending crucial safeguards to one of the world’s greatest salmon fishing destinations,” said ASA Inland Fisheries Policy Director Connor Bevan. “ASA thanks the EPA for incorporating the voices of Alaska’s communities and tribes, as well as anglers across the country, who have long opposed Pebble Mine’s potential impact on Bristol Bay’s headwaters.”
Bevan also thanked the thousands of sportfishing advocates that continually voiced their opposition to the construction of Pebble Mine through ASA’s Keep America Fishing Action Center.
Before the veto, the Army Corps of Engineers denied issuing Pebble Mine the necessary federal permits to extract copper, gold and molybdenum from the mine. ASA is hopeful that this is the final step in the process of this mine’s potential construction.
For any future updates or changes to the EPA’s decision, sign up for updates from ASA’s Keep America Fishing Action Center.
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The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) is the sportfishing industry’s trade association committed to representing the interests of the sportfishing and boating industries as well as the entire sportfishing community. We give the industry and anglers a unified voice when emerging laws and policies could significantly affect sportfishing business or sportfishing itself. ASA invests in long-term ventures to ensure the industry will remain strong and prosperous, as well as safeguard and promote the enduring economic, conservation and social values of sportfishing in America. ASA also gives America’s 55 million anglers a voice in policy decisions that affect their ability to sustainably fish on our nation’s waterways through Keep America Fishing, our national angler advocacy campaign. America’s anglers generate more than $50 billion in retail sales with a $125 billion impact on the nation’s economy creating employment for 825,000 people.
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