How We Got Here
For more than two decades, Pebble Mine threatened to destroy Bristol Bay, which supports a thriving fishing economy, the greatest salmon runs on Earth, and some of the last intact salmon-based cultures. In 2023, hope reemerged in Bristol Bay as the Biden administration took action to finalize a veto of Pebble Mine, effectively killing the project.
2001
Large-scale mining companies Northern Dynasty Minerals, Anglo American and Rio Tinto Mining create the Pebble Partnership.
2006
Tribal leaders, fishing lodge owners, and commercial fishermen began to build a coalition of opposition to the mine out of fears of what the mine could do to the watershed, the communities, and economies of Bristol Bay.
2010
Bristol Bay Tribes petition EPA to use the Clean Water Act Section 404(c) to veto Pebble Mine and protect Bristol Bay.
2011-2014
The Obama administration reviews and studies the issue, releasing a proposed 404(c) veto.
2017-2019
The Trump administration withdrawals EPA's proposed 404(c) veto. Tribes and conservation organizations sue.
2020
During his presidential campaign, President Biden commits to finishing the job for Bristol Bay.
2021
Federal courts reinstate the previously started 404(c) veto process and direct EPA to resume work.
2022
In the summer, EPA concludes its latest public comment period in which more than 650,000 Americans speak out in favor of the agency’s veto process and protecting Bristol Bay. Over the course of all of the federal comment periods since 2010, more than 4 million Americans have stood in support of protecting Bristol Bay, including thousands of Bristol Bay residents and tens of thousands of Alaskans.
January 31, 2023
EPA issues its Final Determination, officially stopping the Pebble Mine.
May 11, 2023
The Biden administration’s historic action was celebrated at the White House Rose Garden. We took this opportunity to launch the next iteration of our campaign — Bristol Bay Forever — dedicated to watershed-wide legislative protection for Bristol Bay that goes beyond stopping the Pebble Mine.
The Pebble Mine is stopped.
But more work must be done to ensure Bristol Bay is fully protected from ongoing mining threats throughout the region.