Question

What are the factors influencing the environmental choice of the proposed surface pebble mine, Alaska?

Answer 1

ANSWER: In Southwest Alaska, on state land near Lake Clark and Lake Iliamna, the proposed surface pebble mine if built would be largest copper and gold mine in North America, potentially producing hundreds of billions of dollars worth of metals. The proposed surface pebble mine is located at the headwaters of certain of the global which is one of effective productive salmon rivers, which feed into fisheries-rich Bristol Bay. Thus on the salmon fishery it will have environmental as well as economic impact. It prompted significant opposition to the Pebble Mine proposal before the permitting process had begun. It could have a direct effect on salmon more than seven miles downstream from the mine and indirectly may damage the fish with it's impacts to their source of food as far as 35 miles downstream. Moreover the risk associated with any copper-mining operation often generates from the unearthed minerals in the waste rock being exposed to water and air, which can forms sulfuric acid. Furthermore the deposit of pebble is located within the most seismically active region on Earth; and it may also elevate acid drainage potential