Conservationists move to permanently protect areas around proposed Alaskan mine (updated)

Northern Dynasty Minerals

22/12/2022 16:53

(Adds Northern Dynasty's statement)
       Dec 22 (Reuters) - The United States' top environmental
non-profit and a regional land trust have raised $20 million to
permanently protect 44,000 acres at an Alaskan watershed, that
could be another major roadblock for a controversial proposed
mine.
    The proposed Pebble Mine, being developed by a unit of
Canada-based Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd  NDM.TO , has been
through a roller coaster of regulations for the past 15 years.
    The Conservation Fund and Bristol Bay Heritage Land Trust
said on Thursday they hit the goal of their fundraiser announced
over a year ago, after Pedro Bay Corp, an Alaska Native village
corporation, voted to let the Fund buy three conservation
easements.
    The purchase will protect the land and water habitat
northeast of Iliamna Lake of the Bristol Bay region, home to
important salmon species including the world's largest sockeye
salmon fisheries that have supported critical wildlife and a
multibillion-dollar industry.
    "Notably, this effort will restrict development of an access
road critical for the proposed Pebble Mine," said the Fund's
spokesperson, Valerie Keefer.
    "We respect the rights of Alaska Native corporation
shareholders to make decisions about what to do on their lands
and hope the Biden administration will do the same for other
Alaska Native corporation shareholders who may have differing
views about what they would like do on their lands, especially
regarding the Pebble Project," said Mike Heatwole, a
spokesperson for Northern Dynasty Minerals' unit.
    Earlier in December, the regional Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) head suggested that the agency veto the project.
 urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N32S2VG
    The fundraiser counted Patagonia's Holdfast Collective among
its donors, along with The Wyss Foundation and Alaska Venture
Fund.
 (Reporting by Sourasis Bose, Ruhi Soni and Arshreet Singh in
Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)
 ((Sourasis.Bose@thomsonreuters.com;))