Pebble Mine Developers Fined for Improper Water Use

The developers behind the Pebble Mine Project in Alaska, will be paying a $45,000 fine for improper use of water at their drilling sites. Permits have been suspended. However, it probably won't last very long. The Anchorage Daily News reports:

The settlement followed a state-led investigation that began after the Pebble Partnership last fall reported using water from unauthorized locations. The settlement required the companies to pay $1,000 for each of 45 violations over the past three years.

The Department of Natural Resources wrote to the mining companies on Jan. 14 that the violations were "at a minimum, a trespass against the state's property and resource interests." While the violations didn't appear to cause environmental damage, the partnership breached state rules and its land-use permit.

Bristol Bay News

We ran into Scott Hed of the Sportsman's Alliance For Alaska at the Charlotte Fly Fishing Show and got the latest news from the Bristol Bay area about the fight against the Pebble Mine disaster. After you watch it check out some of these other videos created by folks who will be directly impacted by the mine.

Bristol Bay Online Auction Active

The Sportsman's Alliance for Alaska's annual fund raising auction is currently in full swing. Last year this auction raised over $50,000 for the fight against the Pebble Mine which would put its caustic tailings in the heart of the world's largest Salmon run. This year, according to Scott Hed of the SAA, anglers will have a chance to get a major deal on the "trip of a lifetime":

In a nod to the economic reality of the present time, the Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska is offering what may possibly be the best deals you’ll ever find on a bunch of fine fishing trips. Here’s the deal: The starting price for all trips will be just $500 over the regular price for 1 angler. That’s right. Basically, book a trip for 1 angler at regular price, and the 2nd person comes along for as little as $500 more! Find a buddy, split the cost, and start packing for your dream trip.

In addition to the trips there are many other items of great gear with starting prices of just 65% of retail. Click here to visit the auction's ebay page. New items are added each Monday.