House Votes—Again—to Suspend Pebble Mine Funding

Appropriations Amendment Prohibits the Army Corps from Issuing a Final Decision on the Project

The U.S. House of Representatives passed an amendment in its appropriations minibus package that bars funding to issue a permit for the Pebble Mine.

The Energy and Water Development amendment (#165) to H.R. 7617--sponsored by Representatives Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), Mike Levin (D-Calif.), and Harley Rouda (D-Calif.)--blocks FY 21 funding to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to finalize a Record of Decision for the giant gold and copper mine proposed at the headwaters of Bristol Bay, Alaska.

Bristol Bay is an American treasure and economic engine. It’s home to the world’s greatest wild salmon fishery, which generates $1.5 billion annually, fuels Alaska’s economy, supports 14,000 jobs, and feeds indigenous communities. The proposed Pebble Mine threatens the entire region—its people, its salmon, and the multimillion-dollar economy it supports.

Given its projected impacts, it’s no wonder the Pebble Mine is overwhelmingly and relentlessly opposed by the people who live there—Tribes, village corporations, commercial, subsistence, and recreational fishermen, hunters, lodge owners, businesses, and conservationists.

Despite this overwhelming opposition, the Army Corps published a fatally flawed final environmental impact statement (EIS), upon which it will base its Record of Decision.

The final EIS is wholly inadequate. It is the result of a recklessly rushed permitting process that ignored input from Tribes, federal and state agencies, and respected independent scientists.

This amendment will slow down the run-away train so that the Pebble Mine federal permitting process can be driven by facts—not political and financial agendas.

Now is the time to Stop Pebble Mine!