Many places to mine; Pebble not one of them

I can’t help but respond to Scott Thorson’s column proposing we just “give Pebble Mine a chance.” In it he calls opponents’ arguments against the mine “tripe,” which is what I could say for most of his recent diatribe in favor of this potential catastrophe.

First of all, this guy is a board member of the Alaska Resources Development Council, a group that advocates the extraction of Alaska’s mineral resources, anytime, anywhere and at the expense of all other resources, in this case one of the world’s richest fisheries. Like all proponents of the mine, he says we should take a wait-and-see approach. He also talks about truth, but states that Northern Dynasty has not applied for any permits, when in fact they have filed for the water rights on upper Talaric Creek and the Koktuli River and are proposing building a series of dams, the largest of which could span 4.3 miles and stretch 740 feet high.

He also accuses opponents of this project of being in cahoots with all variety of large environmental lobbies. Well, I’m just a regular guy, a fisherman and hunter who loves Alaska and has looked at the facts — and, quite frankly, the track record of these foreign companies and their legacy of polluted streams and ruined fisheries speaks volumes.

Alaska has many places where resources can be safely extracted, this sensitive area, however, is not one of them. To put a mine of this size and type at the headwaters of Bristol Bay is nothing short of foolhardy, and I would implore anyone who hunts or fishes, anyone who is concerned about our wildlife and water, anyone who loves Alaska, to wholeheartedly oppose this very shortsighted and ill-conceived project.

Dave Atcheson

Sterling