Huge Alaska mine could impact premier salmon fishery, EPA says

[xchrom]

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/18/11759425-huge-alaska-mine-could-impact-premier-salmon-fishery-epa-says?lite

Rivers and streams in the world's premier wild salmon fishery would be greatly degraded for decades should a vast gold and copper mine be built and then see a failure in the dam holding back its mine waste, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said in a draft report Friday.

The proposed Pebble Mine in Alaska has stirred passions for and against, with fishermen and native tribes in the Bristol Bay watershed generally against the project.

If the tailings dam were to break, the draft report stated, some 20 miles "of salmonid streams would be destroyed and more streams and rivers would have greatly degraded habitat for decades."

Other, smaller failures could put contaminants into the streams if water from the mine is not properly managed. In addition, the native cultures that rely on salmon for food could see a significant change in their lifestyles, the report said.

[roguevalley]

1. pray for us that this dies