Course:EOSC311/2023/Looking Back at Pebble Mine

Introduction

Figure 1, Map of Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay, Alaska

This Wiki page will dive deep into the years long proposed project of Pebble Mine in Alaska's Bristol Bay region that was recently rejected. This mine had been the topic of the region for years, igniting a fierce debate, with some companies supporting it to fuel the economy, while local communities, who have sustained themselves from the land for generations, greatly opposed it. Pebble Mine seeked to extract vast reserves of copper, silver and gold. These minerals would undeniably promise economic growth and increased resource availability. Additionally, many argued that it would significantly enhance supply chains, providing a competitive edge to industries reliant on these essential minerals. However, communities emphasized the immeasurable cultural and ecological significance of Bristol Bay, underscoring the sustainable subsistence lifestyle of Indigenous communities that had persevered for centuries. This contrast between both parties posed a complex moral and economic quandary: to embrace the short-term economic gains presented by Pebble Mine or protect the long-term preservation of a distinctive ecosystem and the traditional way of life it sustains.

Statement of Connection and Why I Chose This

My major is in Operations and Logistics. I chose to write about this topic as Pebble Mine serves as a great example of a process that had extreme logistical nightmares with all the opposition and legal requirements to make this project a reality. I find complex processes extremely interesting to dissect and envision what the possible outcomes could be. The logistical predicament is uncovered for a number of reasons including, the need to navigate legal battles, properly and legitimately address environmental impact assessments, and manage public relations in a landscape filled with opposition parties ready to dig deep into every action they make. Additionally, the mine's operators must have a handle on these multifaceted obstacles while striving to ensure compliance with numerous environmental regulations and secure the countless social licenses necessary for operation.

Connection to our course

This topic, Pebble Mine Project, connects to our course as with this project came persistent resistance from environmental activists, indigenous communities, and concerned citizens that had transformed the project into a formidable challenge for the mine's proponents. A major resistance that we’ve explored in our course is the problem related to mining and how toxic chemicals can leak into the water sources, causing water pollution. This water pollution possessed a number of issues, for example, the irreversible destruction of critical salmon habitats. As this is a major resource for locals, this would have had devastating consequences for the delicate ecosystem of Bristol Bay. Additionally, the social opposition, led by indigenous groups, is rooted in the protection of their cultural heritage and the preservation of traditional ways of life that have sustained them for generations.

Origin of The Pebble Mine Project

The Pebble Mine Project had a busy creation story, igniting the events that exist now with the mine. Here is a brief timeline of events that got this project started:

• 1974:  A 3-way land swap involving the federal government, the State and the Cook Inlet Region results in The State of Alaska securing the rights to Pebble, strictly for mineral potential.
• 1988-1997: Comico (now known as Teck) explores the site leading to the discovery of the Pebble West rich deposits(copper, silver, gold) making this site creates a major buzz in the industry. During this period, major drilling and studies are done, creating concerns about regulatory compliance and environmental impact.
• 2001: Northern Dynasty, a Canadian company, acquired the state leases for the mine from Teck Cominco.
• 2005: Northern Dynasty acquires 100% of the Pebble deposit and discovers Pebble East which holds higher-grade minerals.

Extraction Proposal

Figure 2, Pebble Deposit Cross Section. The Pebble deposit reaches a depth of 2,000 feet in its western reach, known as  Pebble West, and at least 5,000 feet in Pebble East  (Ghaffari et al. 2011).  Mine waste, including tailings and waste rock, comprises roughly 99% of the approximately 10.8 billion metric tons of ore on site (Knight Piesold Consulting 2006a, 2006b).

According to the Wild Salmon Center, Pebble Mine would be an open pit mine where ore extracted would be transported and undergo processing at the mill. At this mill, they would use a flotation process to separate copper, gold, and molybdenum from the source rock. After the metal concentrates resulting from the floatation process, including copper-gold and molybdenum, would be created and transported off-site for final processing. The ore would be crushed and ground before undergoing flotation, where sulphide minerals are separated from the non-sulphide host rock. The flotation process generates over 90% of the tailings, which contain a relatively low sulphide content. Additional flotation operations separate the initial sulphide float into copper and molybdenum concentrates.  This process involves the use of many chemicals known as reagents, which will react with crushed ore and water to extract the desired metals. From this process, waste will be created called tailings. The tailings would be stored in tailings impoundments they will make locally. With the high use of regents, a high amount of tailings will result in this process. A pyrite concentrate, which is highly reactive and requires permanent submersion to prevent acid mine drainage, will also be stored in the tailings reservoirs. The Pebble Mine was projected to process an extremely high amount of volume, with up to 6.5 billion metric tons of ore processed over 78 years. This equals a daily processing volume of almost 230,000 tons or over 80 million tons per year. With these high numbers from high processing rates, a large number of processing reagents, including sulfuric acid, zinc sulphate, and potentially sodium cyanide for gold processing would have had to be used. With these reagents that create tailings, this led to one of many issues local communities and environmentalists were worried about.

Arguments Against Pebble Mine

Environmental Impacts

Figure 3, Threats of Mining in Bristol Bay

One of the biggest environmental concerns, the Pebble Mine project had faced, was the environmental impact that the mine that would inevitably create. Natural lands being destroyed, noise pollution and long-term aftermaths were some of the major arguments made against the project. However, the one that seemed to stand out the most to everyone is was the water pollution that would be caused by the tailing impoundments and the effect it would have on the salmon population. Like anything in our world, things are susceptible to natural forces. These impoundments are no exception as natural forces like erosion, landslides, and earthquakes, can compromise their structure. The companies claimed efforts are made to ensure chemical pollutants didn't leak, but it would only a matter of time for tailings to seep into the surrounding ground and eventually into the surface waters. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) vetoed the project, citing concerns similar to others of the tailings that could leak and inevitably affect the salmon fishery areas in the Bristol Bay area. Bristol Bay is known in the area for its pristine clean tundra and wetlands, that support locals, tourism for their nature, and a thriving wildlife population, including the world's most productive salmon run. The EPA's decision was a vital point for the local communities and environmentalists as the ever-lasting battle between the mining companies and communities continues.

Case Study

A real-life example of a copper mine called Bingham Canyon Mine. This mine is similar to Pebble Mine due to both having copper, gold, and molybdenum operations. Bingham Canyon Mine is the largest of its kind in North America and over time has unfortunately resulted in the contamination of 60 square miles of groundwater near Salt Lake City, creating water unavailability for thousands of households. To combat the contamination, the Kennecott Utah Copper Corp constructed an extensive water treatment facility, the largest in the United States of America, to treat billions of gallons of polluted water annually for the next four decades. In a similar fashion, Pebble Mine is situated on and near people and wildlife. Contamination would have lead to needing more land to construct these water treatment facilities which frankly Bristol Bay does not have room for.

Indigenous Livelihood

A major party that was against the Pebble Mine Project is the people who lived on the lands where they plan to build it, the indigenous communities. Within Bristol Bay, there are several indigenous communities that include the Yup’ik, Dena’ina, and Alutiiq peoples. These communities have lived on the land for years, creating a deep historical and cultural tie to the land they rely on to live. To learn more about the importance of the land for these communities, please see the stories of the people within them.

Gayla Hoseth

Figure 4, Gayla Hoseth

“The salmon are a part of our life and who we are as a people,” says Hoseth, who is a chief of the Curyung Tribal Council. Gayla Hoseth is a part of the Yup'ik community which is deeply connected to how she lives life in Bristol Bay. She learned the art of fishing from her grandmother, acquiring essential skills such as setting nets, and cleaning and cutting fish, and making salmon strips. She understands the life cycle of salmon and the significance of sharing resources within the community. For Gayla, salmon is not just a resource; it is a vital part of their identity and the fabric that connects people together. She recognizes her role in protecting the Pebble Mine and has been actively involved in outreach to tribal communities, educating them about the permitting process and helping them provide impactful testimony. She works to safeguard clean water and advocates for the recognition of tribal communities' subsistence fishing and traditional hunting practices.

Pete Andrew Jr

Figure 5, Pete Andrew Jr. (left) with his brother Dennis and his father.

Pete Andrew Jr. has been a commercial fisherman for 50 years, following in the footsteps of his Yup'ik family. Pete currently has a fishing operation on Bristol Bay that gave him the opportunity to comfortably raise his four children. He grew up in a lifestyle that relied on wildlife, salmon, plants and berries. Andrew expresses concern about the potential impact of the mine on Bristol Bay's ecosystem and emphasizes the value of the region's fisheries for future generations. His argument stems from the value of the lakes and rivers, not just for the potential minerals they hold but for the abundance of life they support. Pete is a protector of the land and the ecosystem that sustains his culture, and he is committed to doing everything he can to prevent Pebble Mine's development.

Faults of Pebble Mine's Owner

With a project with such large environmental risks and concerns, Northern Dynasty Minerals, owner of the Pebble Mine did a poor job at gaining trust that they did the proper research to more than satisfy parties. In 2021, they released an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) report in an attempt to portray itself as environmentally and socially responsible. However, the report failed to address the widespread opposition to the mine and the significant environmental risks it poses. Listed below are key faults in their ESG:

• Lack of Local Support: The report overlooks the consistent opposition from over 80% of local residents, over 85% of commercial fishermen, and 62% of Alaskans statewide.
• Failed Partnerships: Northern Dynasty is not a member of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), and no potential ICMM member partner has been identified. Three ICMM members have withdrawn from the Pebble project.
• Lack of Transparency: The company has been nowhere near transparent in its dealings with the local community, the public, legislators, and regulators.
• Economic Feasibility: Several global copper mining companies have abandoned the project due to its negative net present value (NPV) of $3 billion.
• Impacts on Local Economy: Local Tribes and regional stakeholders underscored the major risks the project poses to the Bristol Bay fishery that is a significant revenue and job generator.
• Failure to Address Catastrophic Risks: The report downplays the potential for a catastrophic dam failure, which could have severe impacts on downstream ecosystems and fisheries. This risk has been acknowledged by industry experts.

All of these points contributed to the eventual fall in feasibility of the Pebble Mine Project.

Conclusion / My Evaluation of the Connections

On January 31st, 2023 the he U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a determination that effectively ends the threat of the proposed Pebble Mine in Alaska's Bristol Bay. In summary, the EPA's recommendation prohibits and restricts the use of certain waters near the Pebble Deposit. The agency utilized its authority under Section 404(c) of the Clean Water Act to prohibit the development of the Pebble deposit at a certain scale. The decision is celebrated by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Alaska and other people who have worked for over 20 years to oppose the mine. Now having Pebble Mine rejected translates to the preservation of the local communities' lifestyle and protecting the wild salmon runs in Bristol Bay.

For me, I find this mine could've easily existed, but the communities and other supporters all used their voice to fight it. It is truly a great result after years of anguish for many parties against the mine. I find although Pebble Mine will no longer be in effect, it will live on as a key case study for future events that have similar aspects to it.

References

This Earth Science resource was created by Course:EOSC311.