RDC Member Comment Letter:
Revised Draft Bristol Bay Assessment

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Via email to ORD.Docket@epa.gov

May 29, 2013

EPA-HQ-ORD-2013-0189

Re:  Potential Impact from a Hypothetical Mining Operation in the Bristol Bay Watershed of Alaska

To Whom It May Concern:

When the Russian Czar was actually the ruler of Alaska (1741 – 1867), his administration of “Russian America” was less intrusive, centralized and “top-down” than is the case now with the Government of the United States vis-à-vis the 49th State of Alaska.

The EPA’s proposed 404(c) action is an extreme case of federal overreach.  It is a grievous assault upon the sovereignty of Alaska.  The Pebble Deposit is on state, not federal land—state land designated for mineral exploitation.

The federal fanaticism against the future Pebble Mine is in ironic contrast with the recent May 2013 action of the Board of the U. S. Ex – Im Bank in granting a $500 million soft loan to further the development of the Oyu Tolgoi gold/copper open pit mine in Mongolia.  Ex Im justifies this loan by asserting that the Mongolian mine will result in 2,000 American jobs!  How many American/Alaskan jobs does EPA hope to thwart and quash by its suzerainty in trying to destroy the Alaska gold/copper/molybdenum mine known as Pebble?

The utterly cynical, bureaucratic, outrageous militancy of the EPA against the world-class Pebble Prospect calls for the sacking of the officials in charge.  In their preservationist zeal to squelch the Pebble Project they are working hand-in-glove with berserk conservationist elements against the economic vital interests of the United States and Alaska.

With our country in desperate need of an enlarged, vibrant economy leading to a balanced budget and diminished overall indebtedness, the American Government seeks to destroy an important economic contribution (Pebble) while at the same time helping to build up the mining-based economy of Mongolia.

Ye gods!

Sincerely yours,

Joseph R. Henri

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Joseph R. Henri
PO Box 210556
Anchorage, Alaska 99521-0556