Sportsmen's Groups Fight to Protect Bristol Bay

The Honorable Thad Cochran
Chairman
Senate Committee on Appropriations
113 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Barbara Mikulski
Ranking Member
Senate Committee on Appropriations
503 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Nita Lowey
Ranking Member
House Committee on Appropriations
2365 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 2051

The Honorable Barbara Mikulski
Ranking Member
Senate Committee on Appropriations
503 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Chairman Cochran, Ranking Member Mikulski, Chairman Rogers, and Ranking Member Lowey:
On behalf of the millions of hunters, anglers, outdoor recreation groups, professional and scientific societies and related business we represent, we urge you to allow the administrative process underway at EPA and other agencies concerning the proposed Pebble Mine to continue.

There is an appropriate role for federal-level deliberation and analysis of the varied views and scientific aspects of the land and water use decisions - and especially so in this case. The proposed Pebble Mine presents a great risk to a vast area in Alaska containing sensitive natural resources that should be evaluated and addressed by state and federal experts.

The proposed Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay poses significant and potentially long-lasting threats to one of the world's foremost sport fishing and hunting regions. Hard-rock mining, and the related infrastructure build-out, would impair fish habitat, wildlife habitat and recreational areas. Pebble Mine would produce an estimated 2.5 to 10 billion tons of waste containing elements such as copper and other heavy metals that would threaten several fishery areas including spawning and breeding grounds for world-renowned populations of salmon and trophy rainbow trout. Southwest Alaska has also been well-known as the best brown bear, moose and caribou combination hunting area in the state for many decades.

Our members nationwide and in Alaska have called on us to protect this sport fishing and hunting destination that is unrivaled in America and perhaps the world, for this and future generations of sportsmen and women. Sport fishing in Bristol Bay contributes more than $60 million annually to the total economic benefit of the Bristol Bay fishing economy, which is over $1.5 billion; anglers looking for "once in a lifetime" sport fishing experiences on rivers such as the Nushagak, Koktuli and Kvichak support more than 800 full and part-time jobs. Though remote, on a yearly basis up to 65,000 visitors come to Bristol Bay for recreational opportunities to fish, hunt, and view wildlife.
For these reasons, we ask that Congress allow the continuation of work by federal agencies with an interest and role in the future of Bristol Bay's tremendously productive lands and waters.

Sincerely,

Boone & Crockett Club
Camp Fire Club of America
Conservation Force
Dallas Safari Club
Delta Waterfowl
Houston Safari Club
Izaak Walton League of America
National Wild Turkey Federation
North American Grouse Partnership
Orion-The Hunter's Institute
Pheasants Forever
Pope & Young Club
Quail Forever
Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
The Wildlife Society
Wildlife Forever
Wildlife Management Institute
Wild Sheep Foundation