British mining giant pulls out of controversial Alaska project
Monday, September 16, 2013 by:Joel Connelly
...
?This is great news for salmon and for jobs in the Pacific Northwest: Safeguarding our headwaters and protecting key salmon spawning grounds is critically important,? said Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., an outspoken critic of the project. ?Our Washington and Alaska economies depend on it.?
Anglo American has been in a 50-50 partnership with Canada-based Northern Dynasty Minerals. It has already invested $541 million in the Pebble Mine project, and will take a $300 million penalty for pulling out.
...
Conservation groups were of good cheer.
?The headwaters of the greatest salmon fishery on the planet are no place to gamble on one of the largest mining operations ever conceived: It was simply the wrong mine in the wrong place. Anglo American recognized that,? said Joel Reynolds of the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Tim Bristol, with Trout Unlimited, said: ?I can?t think of a development project in the state?s history that has faced such wide and deep opposition from the citizens of Alaska.?
