An ad opposing the Pebble Project recently ran in many newspapers throughout the state. The ad was sponsored by the Renewable Resources Coalition, the same group that spearheaded the so called “clean water initiative” which, if passed, would mean an end to mining in Alaska.
The ad highlighted logos from many national fish tackle, equipment, and clothing companies, all who have signed on in opposition to Pebble. Some of these companies who signed on include L.L. Bean, Orvis, Patagonia, G. Loomis, Sage, Oakley, and close to one hundred others.
The ad got me thinking. I wonder why they would be willing to endorse such an ad when the very same companies rely on the products a mine such as Pebble would produce. Mined materials are vital to the production of fishing hooks, waders, sunglasses, boats, and basically everything else these companies sell.
Where do they expect to get the raw materials to make their products? Here or in third world nations? If we choose the latter, high paying jobs will leave Alaska and fewer people will be able to afford to buy products from these companies. If we truly are thinking globally, these companies should consider the consequences of third world natural resource development where environmental oversight lags compared with Alaska.
If these companies are expressing their opposition to Pebble, what’s to stop them from opposing oil and gas leasing in Bristol Bay, minimal logging in the Tongass National Forest, or any other responsible resource development project in Alaska?
Nobody wants to protect Alaska more than Alaskans. However, there is an inherent naiveté amongst lower 48ers. Our permitting process is second to none and with Governor Palin’s recent transfer of the Habitat Division back to the Department of Fish and Game, many of the fears that may have existed should be relieved.
These companies clearly feel they need to protect Alaskans from themselves. Unfortunately, they apparently don’t care about the ramifications to Alaskans of shutting down all of our economic opportunities. They don’t believe mining and protecting fish habitat can occur simultaneously. The example highlighted in this newsletter about NANA and the Red Dog mine proves we can, and do, do it right here in Alaska.
To date, there has not been any formal mine proposed. However, the land where Pebble is located is state land, designated for mining in state land use planning documents. The companies involved have spent hundreds of millions of dollars in exploration.
If and when it does move forward, the National Environmental Policy Act and the state permitting process will kick in and assure that the only way a mine can move forward is if it can protect the existing subsistence, sport, and commercial fisheries resources.
RDC firmly believes that companies such as the Pebble Partnership should be given the opportunity to apply for their permits and prove they can responsibly develop our natural resources. If they can’t show they can live up to the intense scrutiny of the permitting process, the project will not move forward. However, support for this process is imperative to Pebble, and indeed all future opportunities in this state.
All in all, the RDC membership and Alaskans in general, spend millions of dollars with these companies each year enjoying the outdoors. RDC members purchase expensive fishing rods, reels, and vests, top of the line tackle and flies, rifles, sunglasses, boats, trips, and other items from these companies. If these companies are opposing our rights to responsibly make a living, I think we should seriously consider who we are doing business with as well.
COMPANIES OPPOSING THE PROCESS FOR THE PEBBLE PARTNERSHIP
| 7 Days |
L.L. Bean |
| Abel Quality Products |
Lamiglas |
| AEG Media |
Loon Outdoors |
| Airflo Flylines |
LOOP Fly Tackle & Adventures |
| Albright |
March Brown Limited |
| American Angler Magazine |
Mustad |
| American Fly Fishing Trade Association |
Nautilus |
| Boss Tin |
Oakley Eyewear |
| Bruer |
Orvis |
| Brunton |
Outcast Sporting Gear |
| Carbon Flybox Co. |
Partridge |
| Castaway |
Patagonia |
| Chota Outdoor Gear |
R.L. Winston Rod Co. |
| Clackacraft Drift Boats |
REC Components |
| Clear Creek |
Redington |
| Cloud Veil |
Renzetti |
| CNDSPEY USA |
Rio |
| Cortland |
Rising |
| Costa Del Mar |
RO Drift Boats |
| Dan Bailey |
Sage |
| Diamondback |
Saltwater Fly Fishing Magazine |
| Dr. Slick Co |
Scientific Anglers |
| Echo |
Scierra |
| Ex Officio |
Scott Fly Rods |
| Fetha Styx |
Shallow Water Fishing Expo |
| Filson |
Simms |
| Fishing with Cliff |
Smith Optics |
| Fishpond |
Snowbee |
| Fly Tyer Magazine |
Southwest Fly Fishing |
| Fly Water Travel LLC |
Spirit River Inc. |
| Frontiers |
St. Croix |
| FS Media |
Stream Works |
| G. Loomis |
TFO Fly rods |
| Galvan Fly Reels |
The Drake |
| Gamakatsu |
The Fly Fishing Show |
| Gamma |
The Fly Shop |
| Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo |
The Waterworks Lamson |
| Greys |
Thomas & Thomas |
| Guideline |
Tibor Reels |
| Hardy Alnwick England |
Trout Unlimited |
| Hat Tail Headwear |
Turneffe Flats |
| Hatch |
Umpqua Feather Merchants |
| HMH |
Van Staal |
| Islander Reels |
Vosseler Pro Fly Fishing |
| Izaak Walton League |
Wapsi Fly, Inc. |
| Jim Teeny Incorporated |
William Joseph |
| Kaenon Eyewear |
Wind River Gesr |
| Korkers |
Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures |
