FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 31, 2023
CONTACT:
Carmell Engebretson, Director of Communications
(907) 278-3602 or cengebretson@bbnc.net
BBNC: EPA’s Final Determination is a Huge Accomplishment for Bristol Bay
BBNC applauds latest step to eliminate threat to the Bristol Bay region
ANCHORAGE, AK – Bristol Bay Native Corporation (BBNC) welcomes the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) issuance of a Clean Water Act Section 404(c) Final Determination for Bristol Bay. The release of the Final Determination marks another important milestone in our work to protect the Bristol Bay watershed from threats posed by the proposed Pebble mine – a project a majority of Alaskans oppose. It is just the fourteenth time in more than fifty years that EPA has issued a 404(c) Final Determination, and the first in more than a decade. It is the final regulatory step in a journey that began in 2010.
Jason Metrokin, BBNC President and CEO, made the following statement on the Final Determination:
“EPA’s Final Determination is confirmation that Bristol Bay is a special place and Pebble mine represents a unique threat to our region, economy, and way of life. It is the product of more than a decade of rigorous scientific analysis and public comment, supported by a unified coalition of stakeholders from Alaska and beyond. Most important, the Final Determination provides the people of Bristol Bay with greater certainty that Pebble mine will never be built.
“EPA, and in particular Administrator Michael Regan, Assistant Administrator Radhika Fox, and Region 10 Administrator Casey Sixkiller, deserve credit for their thorough work and for listening to the voices of Bristol Bay throughout the process.
“Today is a great day for Bristol Bay, and one that many thought would never come. Nevertheless, we know the fight over our region’s future is not over. BBNC will continue its advocacy to ensure Bristol Bay will always maintain its salmon-based culture and economy, while creating new opportunities across the region.”
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About Bristol Bay Native Corporation: Bristol Bay Native Corporation (BBNC) is a diversified Alaska Native investment corporation dedicated to the mission of “Enriching Our Native Way of Life.” Established through the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971, BBNC works to protect the land in Bristol Bay, celebrate the legacy of its people, and enhance the lives of its shareholders. Learn more at bbnc.net.