A large open-pit mine right at the headwaters poses a significant risk

“It is a hugely important fishery, and having a large open-pit mine right at the headwaters poses a significant risk, and it is one that the people in the region are unwilling to accept.”
BBNC’s opposition to Pebble reflects our Board’s determination that the proposed mine, in any economically feasible configuration, would have irreversible detrimental impacts on the waters, fisheries, wildlife, people, lifestyle and fishing-based economy of the region.


BBNC opposes the proposed Pebble mine. Our position is grounded in BBNC’s “Fish First” value, our corporate commitment to protect the fish that have sustained our culture for thousands of years, and the economic foundation of the Bristol Bay region—the commercial and sport fisheries—for the last hundred years.

“BBNC does not otherwise oppose mining development. Pebble Mine is simply different. In any configuration, the mine is too big and will be located in too important of a location. It poses unacceptable risks to the salmon resource and, consequently, the subsistence lifestyle and economic interests of our shareholders.“
– Jason Metrokin, President & CEO, BBNC

Pebble Mine is a threat to Bristol Bay

Large-scale mining is a danger to the intricate network of lakes, spawning streams and wetlands that make up the Bristol Bay ecosystem, the heart of a $2.2 billion regional fishing industry. Just about every factor involved — the location of the mine, the mining industry’s poor environmental record, the value of the fishery that could be harmed — suggests the risks are too high.


A big operation like Pebble, according to the EPA, would destroy 54 miles to 87.9 miles of critical streams and up to 6.7 square miles of wetlands. In addition there is a threat of catastrophic failure of the huge man-made reservoirs known as “tailing ponds” where mining companies typically store toxic acids, metals and other mining wastes. If that happens, spawning streams would be widely polluted and future salmon harvests sharply diminished.

Pebble Mine threatens one of the world’s last great salmon fisheries

 If the Pebble mine is developed, the subsistence culture of thousands of people who live in the Bristol Bay region will be threatened. The wild salmon runs and the economies they support are threatened by the proposed Pebble mine. In order to thrive the salmon must be protected from Pebble and other large-scale mining projects.


Many people rely on the healthy, abundant Bristol Bay fishery and have stood up against the Pebble mine, including Alaska Natives, Sportsmen and women, commercial fishermen, and chefs and salmon lovers.
Alaska Natives, commercial fishermen, sportsmen and women, commercial fisherman, chefs and salmon lovers and local businesses are working to protect a healthy salmon habitat in these iconic and productive rivers, and the people they support.

Pebble Mine will bring jobs and infrastructure to Southwest Alaska

It will help families remain in their villages and thrive.
It will help power our nation's green energy initiatives.
And it it possible to do this in harmony with the environment.


Pebble has a plan for reclaiming the land after the project is complete (decades from now), including grading the pit to blend with the surroundings, covering the site with topsoil, and planting native plant species.
We depend on mining for our most basic goods, and Pebble Mine is a safe, productive project that will benefit the nation and those living in the area that will be affected.