EPA . . .
I want to
thank the United States EPA for working on this Watershed Assessment. Normally, I am not into the expansive use and
abuse of Federal regulatory power, however in this case I feel that this is an
absolute necessity, not only for Bristol Bay and Alaska, but also for the
United States. The economic potential of
preserving the sustainable resources of Bristol Bay is crucial to American
stability. This massive resource, if
managed properly could become one of the last natural sources of seafood left
on Earth, and pretty soon if the rate of climate change and ocean acidification
continues in their current trends.
Why am I not thanking the State of
Alaska for adhering to it’s own Constitution and protecting the sustainable
resources over the development of temporary gains for foreign benefit you may
ask. Well, the answer to that is really
quite simple. The State of Alaska has
chosen to favor the resource extraction industry’s interests over that of it’s
own citizens, even to the point of suing local populations in an effort to
suppress voting. This is why a call out
to the Federal Government and the plethora of “outside” NGOs was made, because
no one in Juneau is looking out for Bristol Bay or Alaska for the long-term.
In researching and writing about
the Bristol Bay Watershed for quite sometime now, I have found only one
absolute #truth… Politics are twisted and facts can be used both ways in an
argument. I use the word argument to
describe what is happening in Bristol Bay in regards to the preservation and
extraction of the natural resources. The
facts are easy to determine in the issue of what Bristol Bay is about and what
could happen IF industrial development is allowed to occur.
If the EPA chooses to invoke it’s
404 authority and pre-emptively halt the exploration and development of mining
in and around Bristol Bay, assurances must be made to local populations about
the “acceptable” uses of the lands and waters affected. Invoking the CWA may in fact cause undue harm
to local populations by further restricting access to waterways for subsistence
and small commercial activities. If the
EPA chooses to wait out the State of Alaska permitting process and the NEPA
process before making a determination, then it is hoped that their decision
will reflect heavily upon the voices of We The People, not the foreign
corporations and outside interests that are bent on exploiting Bristol Bay.
Bristol Bay is a huge sustainable
resource region that provides for thousands upon thousands of jobs and billions
of dollars to the American economy…As Is.
The fish and wildlife in the region provide for thousands of jobs, not
only in Alaska, but also other states as well.
From the Fishermen and Women to the bus boy in the seafood restaurant
where you can find Pollock, Cod, Halibut, King Crab and of course Salmon, the
impact of Bristol Bay Seafood is almost immeasurable. The Ocean’s bounty as provided by nature
should be protected from unnecessary and risky development, because those holes
in the ground won’t provide a sustainable economic value for anyone.
IF… Bristol Bay is opened up for
industrial development in the form of mining facilities and the associated
infrastructure and eventually offshore drilling; there will be irreversible
damage to the sustainable resources.
This is something that is already happening. With increased exploration of the region,
wildlife resources have to change their migration and habitat patterns. These disruptions will cause a change in the
entire region’s ecosystem, thus affecting the long-term health of subsistence
foods and even commercial fishing. Using
any argument to say that things are going to happen anyway doesn’t hold it’s
own water… Why add more risks and threats to an already fragile watershed?
Despite the short-term economic
“stimulus” that industrial development will provide, the sustainable economy is
capable of providing for the region in perpetuity. Even with the possible development of a dozen
of so mines across Bristol Bay, the life of those projects will be only about
100 years or so. The actual employment
opportunities would be about 20000 jobs spread over the lifetime of the
regional mines. There will of course be
jobs associated with the mitigation efforts and the maintenance of toxic waste
pools. Of that number…it’s hard to
determine with any certainty what the amount of Alaskan and regional hire will
be.
When the regional political
entities can establish solidarity of purpose to take back Our resources from outside
control, then Bristol Bay can once again thrive from those resources. Doing this will allow for the true “Owner
State” concept to take hold and the People of Bristol Bay can better benefit
from the responsible use of the region’s sustainable natural resources. With increased control also comes the proper
economic return to the region and a general strength that can be used to move
forward with maintaining Bristol Bay for generations to come.
Once again… Thank You for entering
into this fray. The decision to invoke
any Federal regulatory powers over the development of Bristol Bay is one that
must not be taken lightly. The
repercussions of the decisions made today will ring throughout the entire
nation tomorrow.
Have a Great Day from Bristol Bay!
Jon Corbett
