Get ready for Alaska’s transformation from pristine to polluted. Last week, voters, with the help of GOP Veep candidate Sarah Palin, shot down the The Clean Water Initiative (Ballot Measure 4), which was designed to protect Alaska salmon, salmon habitat, and drinking water from any new large-scale metal mines by limiting the discharge or release of certain toxic pollutants. It is important that all residents in Alaska have access to clean drinking water so that it can be beneficial to their health. If they can’t get it from here, then they may want to have a look for more info on Water Filter Way to find the best water filtration systems that can be bought for their homes so that their drinking water is clean all year round. This could also make sure that they have access to clean water if the vote doesn’t go the way they want it to.
This ballot measure was written to address concerns about the impacts the proposed Pebble Mine would have on the salmon and people of the Bristol Bay region. Pebble would be a massive open-pit and underground mine that would suck water from world famous trout fishery, Talarik Creek and the Koktuli River and would also potentially spill contaminated water into the Mulchatna and Nushagak river system.
Pebble Mine supporters say that they’ve gotthe technology to keep acid runoff and other toxic junk from getting into waterways. The evidence suggests otherwise.
Since 1969, the federal National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) has required environmental review of all major mining projects that impact federal land (as well as some on state land). Of the mines in this study with similar characteristics to Pebble, 100% of them contaminated nearby waters.
Northern Dynasty, the company proposing the mine, has claimed that environmental problems happened only at old mines (pre 1980s), or mines not subject to strict environmental review.
But the mines in this study had an average opening date of 1986, and all had extensive environmental reviews under NEPA (most with full EISs). 76% still caused contamination.
Furthermore, the Environmental Protection Agency has stated that mining has contaminated portions of the headwaters of over 40 percent of watersheds in the western continental U.S., and reclamation of 500,000 abandoned mines in 32 states could cost tens of billions of dollars.
Way to go! What’s next?
Ryan Sabalow says
After careful study of the comments above for a few minutes, I have to conclude that JD is really Burt Reynolds – same mustache, epic mane of chest hair, propensity to slap people and bow skills.
JD says
Of course it’s the same photo…just a dramatization of what could be to come.
Wilson Taguinod says
JD,
After studying the two images for a few minutes I have to conclude they are of the same photo – same current seams, cloud structures, light filtering through the clouds, snow patches.
I am all for protecting our natural resources and don’t believe a word of what a Pebble says about keeping their runoff out of the water system, but I have to express my dismay at the person who presented this falsified image. This type of blatant misrepresentation can only do harm to our cause by loss of credibility.
There are enough cold hard facts which can be used to further our cause that we shouldn’t resort to such deceitful behavior.
Wilson