The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has said that the Pebble Project is good to go for the next step of permitting.

It won’t be that easy of course. Although the long-awaited environmental impact statement said that if the mining project proceeds according to its plan, there will be no measurable impact on salmon in Bristol Bay or the commercial fishery, the ink is being placed on the lawsuits already.

“Today was really fifteen years in the making. From the beginning, we dedicated the time, resources and technical work to ensure we had a project that could be done responsibly, be done without harm to the Bristol Bay fishery, and provide meaningful contributions to the communities closest to the project,” said Tom Collier, CEO of the Pebble Project. “After an extensive, rigorous, and transparent review process the USACE has concluded the Pebble Project meets that mark.”

The project went through the same federal review process that has brought Alaskans decades of North Slope development and a host of other resource development projects that faced heavy resistance every step of the way but that now provide jobs and economic activity for thousands of Alaskans, he said.

The Natural Resource Defense Council issued its statement on Thursday, a full day before the release of the document:

“The analysis is full of gaps, deficiencies, and legal blunders. The Army Corps conducted a hasty review at breakneck speed and ignored the tribes, cooperating agencies, and other stakeholders who identified serious errors in the agency’s process,” the NRDC said, in part.

But Pebble is used to this type of attack.

“Alaskans, especially the residents of Bristol Bay, have never received the real Pebble story and after a lengthy misinformation campaign many were led to believe a mine at Pebble would harm the fishery,” Collier said.

“Some will criticize the USACE and the process they followed to get to this point. That is unfortunate. The USACE is staffed by some of the most diligent public servants in our government,” he said, advising that he expects groups like the NRDC to challenge the process in court.

“I welcome that challenge because the process is sound and defensible. The process has been thorough. It has been thoughtful. I have worked in federal permitting for most of my career and can say with certainty the USACE has done a very good job. I have been laser focused on making sure that any permit received for the project could withstand a court challenge and I am confident the process followed to produce this thorough EIS will prevail,” Collier said.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy also issued a statement today:

“Today’s release of the Final Environmental Impact Statement by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is only one step in a lengthy and complex regulatory process that will take place before any final determinations are made on the proposed Pebble Project. The Pebble Partnership has not even initiated the state permitting process and is not expected to do so until a Record of Decision is released by the Corps of Engineers later this year. When that happens, the Pebble Project will undergo a thorough, fact based analysis by the appropriate state agencies to determine if it meets Alaska’s high standards for environmental protection.”pebble

The United Fishermen of Alaska announced its endorsement of U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan on Thursday.

The announcement comes as a bit of a body blow to the campaign of his opponent, Al Gross, who presents himself as a commercial fisherman from Petersburg. This is an endorsement that should have come easily for someone with an Alaska gill net permit. Many in the fishing industry are independent voters, and Gross also presents himself as an independent, although he is running on the Democrats’ ticket and with the Democrats’ resources and endorsement.

Sen. Sullivan has demonstrated leadership and effectiveness in advancing the interests of Alaska?s fisheries and fishermen across the state,? said UFA President Matt Alward. ?

“Time and time again, Dan Sullivan has stood up for Alaska fishermen and coastal communities. Whether it was spearheading through Congress a permanent e?emption to the EPA?s overburdensome regulations for incidental discharge from fishing vessels, advancing efforts to reduce and remove tariffs on Alaska seafood, working across the aisle to pass sweeping marine debris and ocean clean-up legislation, or securing critical relief for Alaska fishermen and their families in the face of COVID-19. We look forward to working with the Senator to further improve the Alaskan fishing industry and address issues of importance to our members and the communities in which they live and work,” UFA said.

In 2018, UFA recognized Sullivan for his successful efforts in holding the Canadian government accountable for transboundary? mines that pollute Alaska?s waters and threaten fisheries. He has worked with the Alaska delegation to combat illegal fishing, fought to ensure that illegally caught seafood does not enter the U.S. market, and played a critical role in developing a provision that reduces the cost of a new fishing vessel. Most recently, Sen. Sullivan fought to secure a provision in the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (or CARES) Act providing $300 million in relief funding for fisheries impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Senator Sullivan has also demonstrated his commitment to ensuring the continued success of Alaska?s fisheries. The Senator, through numerous pieces of comprehensive legislation, has championed the issue of addressing the global marine debris crisis, which harms the marine food chain. He included language in the bi-partisan international trade bill, the USMCA (United States?Mexico?Canada Agreement) which ensures that fisheries are a principal point of all future negotiations. Senator Sullivan has worked on barriers that negatively impact entry into the fishing industry and ensured that the next generation of Alaska fishermen have access to resources needed for successful operations. Additionally, Sullivan was instrumental in securing long sought changes to the vessel incidental discharge permit requirements ? which created significant confusion and obstacles for vessel operators and Alaska fishermen.

?Throughout his first term, Senator Sullivan has been approachable, trustworth?, and an effective advocate for commercial fishermen, and we are pleased to continue this partnership in the coming ?ears,? said UFA Executive Director Frances Leach.

A car dealership on Tudor Blvd. near the site of one of the mayor’s chosen locations for vagrant services had five of its vehicles vandalized last night. The manager of the dealership had last week given impassioned testimony about the overwhelming amount of crime and vagrancy near the dealership.

And then the vandalism came, with hundreds of thousands of dollars of merchandise destroyed. A coincidence? Possibly.

Save Anchorage, a new community grassroots group, is a lead group on a protest against lawlessness and the lack of support for police officers in Anchorage. Actually, they’re protesting the general disintegration of the social fabric in Anchorage of late.

Citizens will gather at New Seward Highway at Benson Blvd., near where the new Carrs grocery store is located, from 4-6 pm.

Sources within the group said they’re standing up against the mayor of Anchorage and the municipality’s lack of support for law enforcement, the mayor’s attempt to force vagrants and drug abusers into centers to be located in family neighborhoods, and the new ordinance by Assembly member Meg Zalatel to tie the hands of police officers when it comes to their duties to keep people safe.

“People are just ‘over’ it with this administration,” the source told Must Read Alaska. “They want their community back.”

NO IN-PERSON TESTIMONY ALLOWED ON CONTROVERSIES AT ASSEMBLY

At Tuesday’s Anchorage Assembly meeting, the mayor’s vagrant plan will be up for public testimony.

So will Zalatel’s “use of force” ordinance, referenced above.

The Assembly will also consider Chair Felix Rivera’s proposed ban on counseling for those who have gender confusion issues. Rivera’s ordinance prohibits any sort of “sexuality conversion therapy” for those who want to attempt to overcome homosexuality or other sexual variations.

The Assembly will consider an ordinance prohibiting evictions of people who do not pay their rents, offered by Rivera.

The Assembly will hear Mayor Ethan Berkowitz’ proposal to establish an Office of Equity and Justice in his office.

But curiously, no one will be allowed in the Assembly Chambers to testify on these or myriad other controversial items coming before the Assembly.

The mayor has prohibited gatherings in the city and therefore all testimony will be done telephonically.

The entire agenda is at this link.