Statement from American Rivers President Bob Irvin on the Corps of Engineers decision to delay Pebble Mine permit

August 24, 2020

Contact: Sinjin Eberle, American Rivers, 720-373-0864

(Washington, DC) – Statement of American Rivers’ President Bob Irvin:

“We welcome today’s announcement by the Corps of Engineers to hit the pause button on deciding whether to permit Pebble Mine in the headwaters of Bristol Bay. While we would prefer that the Corps had simply denied the permit given the existential threat that Pebble Mine poses to the greatest wild salmon fishery left on the planet, requiring the company to provide further information on how it plans to mitigate the serious threat posed by the mine to the irreplaceable fishery is a step in the right direction. One cannot put a price on how important the Bristol Bay fishery is to Alaskan Native communities, commercial fishers, sport fishers, and every American who treasures wild rivers and thriving ecosystems. Hopefully today’s announcement will mark the beginning of the end of a mining project that should have been killed years ago. We will continue to support our colleagues in the conservation, fishing, and Alaskan Native communities who have worked tirelessly to fight this devastating project until we are confident that the Pebble Mine is dead for once and for all.”

About American Rivers

American Rivers protects wild rivers, restores damaged rivers, and conserves clean water for people and nature. Since 1973, American Rivers has protected and restored more than 150,000 miles of rivers through advocacy efforts, on-the-ground projects, and an annual America’s Most Endangered Rivers® campaign. Headquartered in Washington, DC, American Rivers has offices across the country and more than 250,000 members, supporters, and volunteers.

Rivers connect us to each other, nature, and future generations. Find your connections at AmericanRivers.org, Facebook.com/AmericanRivers, and Twitter.com/AmericanRivers.