The U.S. Department of Justice reaffirming its legal defense of the Clean Water Act protections for Bristol Bay is welcome news for Bristol Bay, though a fight remains in court to defend the decision our Tribes fought so hard to achieve.

Today, in a radical “hail Mary,” legal maneuver, the State of Alaska filed a lawsuit before the U.S. Supreme Court challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final determination for the Pebble deposit. In doing so, the State ignores long established procedural rules regarding challenges of agency actions. Earlier this year, EPA issued 404(c) Clean Water Act protections to end the threat of the Pebble Mine due to the adverse risks it poses to Bristol Bay’s waters and the surrounding ecosystem.

This week, Northern Dynasty Minerals—the company behind the recently vetoed Pebble Mine—agreed to pay nearly $6.4 million to a group of investors who claimed they were misled about the size and scope of the proposed mining project in Bristol Bay, Alaska.

Today, the Bristol Bay fishing season formally began, and it’s estimated that the 2023 sockeye salmon run will be more than 50 million fish. This is the first fishing season in decades that fishermen are gearing up for the first opener without the threat of the Pebble Mine—a proposed massive open pit mine at the headwaters of the Bay that would have produced up to 10.2 billion tons of waste—threatening the salmon that return each year, clean water, and health of the entire ecosystem. 

This week, in a decision refusing to overturn its November 2020 permit denial for the proposed Pebble Mine, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers remanded a small number of issues raised in a January 2021 appeal filed by the Pebble Limited Partnership for further review by its Alaska District staff. The Army Corps rejected Pebble’s permit application in 2020 based on the agency’s conclusion that the proposed large-scale mine would pose “unacceptable adverse effects” to Bristol Bay’s pristine wetlands and world-class wild salmon fishery. The Alaska District will now document certain specific findings in the administrative record to clarify its permit decision.

Bristol Bay Tribes, fishermen, businesses and allies again reiterated their opposition to mining that jeopardizes Bristol Bay’s cultures and economies in response to the latest mineral exploration efforts in the region.

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on February 28 publicized an application from Stuy Mines LLC for mineral exploration activities along Kaskanak Creek, located southwest of the Pebble deposit, and opened a two week public comment period on the application ending March 14.

Bristol Bay Tribes, communities, Alaska Native Corporations and organizations are celebrating the news that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized 404(c) Clean Water Act protections that will stop the proposed Pebble Mine from being built at the headwaters of Bristol Bay.

Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued 404(c) Clean Water Act protections to end the threat of the Pebble Mine due to the adverse risks it poses to Bristol Bay’s waters and the surrounding ecosystem. 

Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a “Recommended Determination” detailing potential Clean Water Act protections for Bristol Bay that could address the threat of the Pebble Mine. The release marks the closest the EPA has ever been to finalizing Clean Water Act 404(c) protections for Bristol Bay. The next (and final) step in that process is for the agency to determine whether to issue a “Final Determination” formalizing protections.

A lengthy report released today by the U.S. House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee shows new depths of Pebble’s deceptions to lawmakers, investors and the public, emphasizing the urgent need for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to enact Clean Water Act 404(c) safeguards that protect Bristol Bay from the threat of this toxic mine project.

United Tribes of Bristol Bay’s “Salmon Slate” endorsements for the 2022 general election are: Lisa Murkowski and Pat Chesbro for U.S. Senate; Mary Peltola for U.S. House; Les Gara and Bill Walker for Alaska Governor; Lyman Hoffman for Alaska State Senate; and Bryce Edgmon for Alaska State House of Representatives. Additionally, UTBB endorses voting no on ballot measure one, opposing a constitutional convention.

This week, the Bristol Bay Defense Fund launched an advertisement campaign that urges the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to end the threat and veto Pebble Mine now. The ads state: “The recorded salmon runs have never been larger. The chorus of Alaskans has never been louder. Return peace to Bristol Bay, veto pebble mine now.”

Bristol Bay residents and Tribes voiced widespread support for Clean Water Act protections during the Environmental Protection Agency’s public comment period that ends Sept. 6, joining a record number of Alaskans urging the federal agency to protect Bristol Bay this year.

Bristol Bay is celebrating Alaska Wild Salmon Day on August 10 as a day of action on the heels of another record-breaking salmon season in Bristol Bay this year.

For the second year in a row, a record number of sockeye have returned to Bristol Bay. Through July 14, Alaska Department of Fish and Game estimates 69.7 million sockeye returned to the Bay and its rivers, breaking the previous record of 67.7 million sockeye, set in 2021. Commercial fishermen have also set a new harvest record for the bay, with 53.3 million sockeye caught through July 14.

Nearly 100 Bristol Bay residents and other supporters urged the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to finalize strong permanent protections for the region during the agency’s three public hearings this week.

Bristol Bay leaders called for comprehensive protections that protect the full natural headwaters of three critical subwatersheds: the North Fork Koktuli, South Fork Koktuli, and Upper Talarik Creek.

Bristol Bay Tribes, fishermen, and communities are pleased to see the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s announcement regarding revised proposed protections for our lands and waters.

Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) noticed its publication of a Proposed Determination (PD) regarding the Pebble deposit for Bristol Bay the next step in the process that brings EPA one step closer to enacting 404(c) Clean Water Act protections for the region.