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Keep fighting for Bristol Bay

June 5, 2012 by adminewa

I arrived a little after 2pm and there was a lengthy queue to enter the Jackson Federal Building. Twenty places back in line was Dave wearing an anti-Pebble cap and toting a massive camera case which has become an extension of his casting arm.

We were among the 300 or so folks who turned up on May 31 for the EPA meeting seeking public comment on the recently published draft of “An Assessment of Potential Mining Impacts on Salmon Ecosystems of Bristol Bay, Alaska.” Facilitators had to open up a second room to accommodate the crowd.

More than 80 people commented, including the usual suspects from hunter and angler advocacy organizations, tribal members, conservation nonprofits, travel and tourism reps, fly rod manufacturers and other fly fishing industry folks. A couple of church groups chimed in as well invoking Christian duty to protect the watershed. Mine lobbyists found themselves among a sea of red, white and black stickers advertising that familiar anti-Pebble logo.

Conservationists hope that the EPA will initiate Section 404(c) of the Clean Water Act for the proposed Bristol Bay mine site, which would help protect the area by expanding the EPA’s jurisdiction. The federal agency could deny key permits for dredging and filling.

During the course of testimony, speakers were forced to be terse with a two-minute time limit to give their two cents. The ‘no applause’ ground rule was broken a few times, but the overall tone was civil with a notable absence of booing when the pro-Pebble parties spoke.

Pardon the ad hominem attack, but the funny idiot award goes to Ron Arnold, a representative from the Center for Defense of Free Enterprise.

The Bellevue man cited an egregious omission in the EPA report: why did the draft not include “the potential positive developments” of mining in Bristol Bay. Excuse me, but this was a study of the impact on salmon habitat, not on bank accounts. Even the most forthright copper-mine cheerleader would be loath to argue the benefits of open-pit mining on wild salmon habitat. In what parallel universe does this guy live—one where salmon thrive on reduced habitat, reduced wetlands, runoff from road salts and toxic chemical leaching?

Stick to your side’s talking points, friend-o: jobs and economic development.

And since when did Free Enterprise need its own advocacy group in the United States, the birthplace of laissez-faire capitalism?

After the meeting, I spoke to a Yupik tribal member, a woman who splits her time between Seattle and Bristol Bay. Having seen “Red Gold” multiple times, I recognized her face instantly. She makes her home near lliamna Lake on the Kvichak River. I asked her if opinion on the mine among tribal members was really divided. She said abut 80 percent of the members were opposed while only 20 percent were pro-development.

She’ll head back up to Bristol Bay in July for the sockeye run. I watched her eyes light up when she told me she was headed back to cut fish. I wished her a good season, and many more to come.

Filed Under: Emerald Water Anglers Tagged With: Bristol Bay, Pebble Mine

Pebble Mine Meeting Tomorrow

May 30, 2012 by adminewa

For those unaware, the EPA made a significant find om the Pebble Mine issue a short time ago and now the time to speak up and back this finding with a united voice has arrived. Seattle is hosting a meeting by the EPA here tomorrow, this is worth the drive if you live within 6 hours of here. See image for details on where and when.

Blast this around and we will see you at 2pm tomorrow.

Filed Under: Emerald Water Anglers Tagged With: Alaska, Emerald Water Anglers, environment, fishing, Pebble Mine, sockeye salmon

Pebble Mine Fight Takes a Hit — WTF–K!

July 18, 2011 by adminewa

House approves bill to undercut the Clean Water Act
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Date:
07/14/2011

Izaak Walton League of America ● National Wildlife Federation ● Trout Unlimited

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

House approves bill to undercut the Clean Water Act

H.R. 2018 puts nation’s waters, fish and wildlife at risk.

Washington, DC – The U.S. House of Representatives voted yesterday to approve sweeping, harmful changes to the nation’s bedrock water-quality protecting law, the Clean Water Act. In a 239-184 vote, the House passed H.R. 2018, a bill that will adversely affect waterways across the nation.

H.R. 2018, dubbed the The Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act of 2011, purports to strengthen “cooperative federalism” by giving the states more control over the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Water Act oversight. In fact, the bill undermines the federal-state partnership on which the Clean Water Act is based. Introduced less than four weeks ago, the House of Representatives held no legislative hearings on the bill and rushed to approve it, apparently to avoid giving it the scrutiny it deserves.

“For 38 years, the Clean Water Act has provided protection for our nation’s waters,” said Steve Moyer, Vice President for Government Affairs at Trout Unlimited. “The Clean Water Act has led to immense progress nationwide on cleaning up our waters, restoring fish habitat, protecting drinking water sources, reducing wetlands loss, and developing water-based recreational economies. This bill weakens the power of the Clean Water Act and puts our lakes, rivers and streams at risk,” Moyer said.

U.S. waters sustain the activities of 40 million anglers who spend about $45 billion a year, and about 2.3 million people spend $1.3 billion per year hunting ducks and other migratory birds. Sportsmen conservationists strongly oppose HR 2018 and urge the U.S. Senate to do a more thorough job of assessing the impacts of HR 2018 on the nation’s waters before taking any action on this harmful bill.

The goal of the Clean Water Act is to “restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation’s waters,” was written at a time when lakes and rivers served as wastewater treatment plants and as dumping grounds for toxic, flammable chemicals. H.R. 2018 undermines the Clean Water Act’s goal, and by extension, threatens to return our waters to the deplorable conditions of the past.

“This bill would undermine the use and enforcement of water quality standards, and allow our waters to become dumping grounds,” said Jan Goldman-Carter, wetlands and water resources counsel for the National Wildlife Federation. “Not only would our country’s waters be at risk, but fish and wildlife would become collateral damage of this dangerous legislation,” Goldman-Carter said.

“This bill would create a hodgepodge of water quality standards around the country,” said Scott Kovarovics, Conservation Director, of the Izaak Walton League of America. “Some states will adopt stronger standards while others will choose weaker standards, while the waters of states with stronger standards may be polluted by water flowing from adjacent states with weaker standards,” Kovarovics said.

H.R. 2018 attacks two critical components of the Clean Water Act: enforcement of water quality standards; and protection of waters from discharges of dredged and fill material.

H.R. 2018 undermines the use and enforcement of water quality standards, the Clean Water Act’s engines of water quality improvement and wildlife habitat protection.

H.R. 2018 would also limit the federal government’s ability to compel states to implement or improve their water quality standards to deal with pollution and habitat- destroying activities.

The bill would also block the EPA from objecting to individual permits that fail to comply with water quality standards. For bodies of water that span multiple states, like the Great Lakes or Chesapeake Bay, federal oversight is needed to ensure one state’s weaker standards do not undermine progress in reducing pollution across the body of water.

The bill will next move for a vote in the U.S. Senate.

Filed Under: Emerald Water Anglers Tagged With: Alaska, Clean Water Act, Pebble Mine, Trout Unlimited

Save Bristol Bay and ExOfficio Event-June 9

May 31, 2011 by adminewa

Hope to see everyone there. Go Bristol Bay, Go BlueAcre and Beer, BOOOOOOOO Pebble Mine!

 

RSVP Here:  http://www.savebristolbay.org/contest

 

Filed Under: Emerald Water Anglers Tagged With: ExOfficio, Pebble Mine, Save Bristol Bay

UP’s and down’s of our fishing world…

March 22, 2011 by adminewa

There is a ton going on in the angling community and while some of it is very vivid and in our face here, others may not be so much so I thought I would share some of the struggles and silver linings of yesterday.

First, here at home in Washington:

Some wildlife lands and boat launches face closure under state budget shortfall
The statewide revenue shortfall is threatening a host of important state services, including state wildlife lands and water-access sites.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), Department of Natural Resources and State Parks and Recreation Commission are collaborating to support proposed legislation that would create a recreation land user fee to supplant lost state General Fund support and maintain public access to state recreation lands.

The proposed measures, Senate Bill 5622 (http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=5622&year=2011 ), introduced by Sen. Kevin Ranker, and House Bill 1796 (http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1796&year=2011 ), introduced by Representative Kevin Van De Wege, are still under consideration in the Legislature.

The proposed bills would create an access pass-known as the Discover Pass-for use of all state recreation lands managed by WDFW, State Parks and DNR. The Discover Pass would cost $30 per year or $10 for a single day pass. Those purchasing certain fishing or hunting licenses could purchase a $7 annual pass for use solely on WDFW lands and water-access sites. Campers who pay for a State Parks campsite would not be required to purchase the Discover Pass and volunteers who provide 24 hours of service to any of the state agencies could receive a complimentary pass.

The Discover Pass is vitally needed to avert steep reductions in wildlife land operations and recreational access. It would provide an estimated $5.5 million for WDFW recreation lands in the coming biennium, an identical amount of support for DNR recreation lands, and $60 million for State Parks. The proposed Discover Pass revenue allocation reflects what is needed simply to maintain current operations.

The reduction proposed in the Governor’s budget comes on the heels of other budget reductions. Since 2009, WDFW lands operation and maintenance has lost one fifth of its state funding. As General Fund support has declined, WDFW has been forced to turn to hunting and fishing license revenue to maintain recreational access. In essence, hunters and fishers are subsidizing other, non-paying users of WDFW lands.

The Discover Pass proposal is consistent with the Governor’s suggestion that agencies adopt a user-pay model to maintain services that can no longer be supported through the state General Fund. The Discover Pass would allow all users-hikers, campers, equestrians, wildlife watchers, boaters and others-to share the cost of maintaining and operating state recreation lands.

Since the final outcome of the Discover Pass proposal is uncertain, lawmakers have asked WDFW what recreation land and boat launch service reductions would be necessary if the proposal is not successful.

In response, WDFW has developed criteria to guide the determination of permanent or seasonal closures on wildlife areas and water access sites that may become necessary if funding solutions are not found. Closure means that land management-such as toilet pumping, garbage removal and weed management-would not occur and that the areas would be closed to public access.

Final wildlife area and boat launch closure decisions would depend on the state budget that is adopted by the Legislature, and would be subject to a public process and consideration by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission.

The criteria for assessing wildlife areas and water-access sites for potential closure follows the Governor’s “user pays” direction, and is aimed at maximizing fishing and hunting use, since recreational licenses revenues currently provide the majority of WDFW’s land operating funds.

The criteria to evaluate wildlife areas for possible closure are:

Level of weed management required, based on current conditions and the presence of agriculture or ranching activity
Percentage of critical wildlife habitat
Cost of maintaining recreational access
Amount of annual use for licensed activities such as fishing, hunting and trapping
Amount of other types of recreation
Access control (number of roads adjacent to or passing through the wildlife area)
Annual maintenance cost per acre
Restrictions associated with grant funding or contract obligations
The criteria to evaluate boat launches/water-access sites for potential closure are:

Maintenance costs (grading, toilet pumping, ramp upkeep, vandalism clean up, enforcement)
Amount of annual use for licensed activities such as fishing, hunting and trapping
Amount of use for non-licensed recreation
Presence of access-control points (gates)
Availability of alternate, nearby public access sites
Restrictions associated with grant funding or contract obligations
Contemplating possible closure of public recreation lands is a difficult and troubling prospect. We are working closely with our sister agencies and state leaders to try to avert such closures.

Back east some good news:

Stripers Forever NC – CCA NC and the Coastal Fisheries Reform Group recently introduced HB 353 into the NC legislature. HB 353 would make red drum, speckeled trout, and striped bass game fish in NC. These three species could be taken only by rod and reel and the sale of the fish would not be permitted. Additionally the bill would compensate commercial fishermen for three years of lost revenue on these species. The bill has passed its first reading in the House and has been assigned to “ Committee On Commerce and Job Development Subcommittee on Business and Labor”. Stripers Forever strongly supports this bill and applauds the CCA and CFRG for getting this action underway.

The bill will be discussed in committee this Wednesday, and will be voted on at that time. If passed, it will then be sent to the House floor for discussion and a vote. Our next hurdle is to win the vote in this committee, and therefore we need to email and call every one of these committee members encouraging them to vote for the bill. Here are the members, their email link, and their phone numbers. Please forward this to your email list and encourage them to do the same. It does not matter if these folks are your personal representatives or not. They are now responsible for considering this bill, and they ALL need to hear from ALL of us tonight or tomorrow at the lastest!

Lastly from Trout Unlimited in AK, this is AWESOME!!

Fellow Bristol Bay Supporter,

Thanks to you, over the past three weeks the Environmental Protection Agency heard from more than 60,000 sportsmen and women, salmon-lovers, commercial fishermen, Alaskan natives, and other outdoor enthusiasts asking them to protect Bristol Bay. Your hard work is paying off. The EPA recently took a great first step by initiating a comprehensive scientific review of the issue. We commend them for initiating this process. But the work to protect Bristol Bay is not done. The foreign mining companies proposing the Pebble mine are applying constant pressure with their high-powered lobbyists to push this mine through. We need your continued support to protect Bristol Bay’s fish, wildlife and people from Pebble and the roughly 10.8 billion tons of mine waste it would create.

I like ending on good notes, fine casts and hearty laughs.

Filed Under: Emerald Water Anglers Tagged With: Alaska, boat ramps, Emerald Water Anglers, North Carolina, Pebble Mine, public lands, Stripers Forever, Trout Unlimited, Washington, WDFW

New York City, Pebble Mine, and Fishmongers

January 17, 2010 by Ted McDermott

redgold

On a recent visit back east I got a funny feeling from being so far from Northwest steelhead water. Let’s just call it “Spey Withdrawal” for now, but you all know what I mean when it’s been too long since swinging through your favorite run (we need a better name for it though, I’m open to any suggestions). Anyway, to temporarily relieve the symptoms of Spey Withdrawal I decided to visit a fly shop in of all places on Fifth Avenue in Downtown Manhattan. The Urban Angler is a superb shop with a great staff; I highly recommend it to anyone in the area. Upon exiting the elevator right onto the shop floor, the very first thing I saw was a “Save Bristol Bay” cap. “Red Gold” was all over the shop and the guys working there were well educated with what’s going on in southwest Alaska. I went in just to quench my thirst for fly-fishing and I left impressed at the fact that a shop in New York was so involved and knowledgeable with regards to saving Bristol Bay. It’s great to see what a widespread effect all of the conservation efforts have on something as important as this.

With that said, it amazes me that a few (but certainly not all) of the people right here in Seattle who desperately depend on this resource know very little about the subject. In light of Kevin Davis and Steelhead Diners’ campaign to get local restaurants actively participating in conserving the Bristol Bay fishery we thought about trying to get more of the Seattle food community aware and involved. EWA has been visiting local fishmarkets and have had some great responses from places like Seattle Fish Company in West Seattle (now advertising “Bristol Bay Sockeye” and educating their customers about the Pebble Mine) and Wild Salmon in the Fisherman’s Terminal. Hopefully we’ll have more markets and vendors on board shortly and with their help maybe even the entire Seattle seafood industry doing more and actively participating in the fight for Bristol Bay. Thanks to those who are doing their share and spreading the word.

Filed Under: Emerald Water Anglers Tagged With: Bristol Bay, Fishmonger, Pebble Mine, Urban Angler

Pebble Mine just won’t go away…

November 19, 2009 by emeraldw

From the Seattle P.I. online:

Fight is on between pro-fish camp, mine defenders
By MARY PEMBERTON
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The fight is on between backers of an Alaska mine being developed near the world’s most productive wild salmon streams and 13 Seattle restaurants.

This week, the establishments are featuring wild Alaska salmon on their menus, dished up with warnings about the future of Bristol Bay salmon if the copper, gold and molybdenum mine is permitted and built in southwest Alaska.

One of the Pebble Mine’s most prominent supporters over the weekend called for a boycott of the restaurants taking part in Trout Unlimited’s Savor Bristol Bay campaign.

Gail Phillips, the president of Truth about Pebble, a group of mine supporters, sent out her appeal for a boycott via e-mail to her “family and friends” – including the chefs – following an Associated Press story featuring chef Kevin Davis at the Steelhead Diner and chef Seth Caswell at Emmer & Rye. The chefs are among those participating in the Trout Unlimited campaign.

The e-mail from Phillips, also a former Alaska state legislator, prompted food blogger Ronald Holden – Seattle’s Global Gourmet – to ask a question Monday.

“Seriously, Ms. Phillips, are you nuts?” Holden asked on two blogs, including his own.

“Every single visitor and every single local knows Seattle is famous for salmon,” Holden responded to Phillips. “Like it or leave it, salmon is at the heart of Seattle’s restaurant economy.”

The Trout Unlimited campaign is timed to coincide with Seattle’s Pacific Marine Expo 2009, the largest commercial marine trade show on the West Coast.

Phillips recites an oft-heard complaint coming from the pro-Pebble contingent that questions how Pebble opponents can come out against a mine that has no final development plan and isn’t permitted.

Holden apparently has heard enough about Pebble to make up his mind.

“A wealth of minerals lies beneath the tundra, and Pebble wants it,” he says on his blog. “Trouble is, getting the riches would require a vast open-pit mine, the world’s biggest, on the headwaters of Bristol Bay.”

Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. and Anglo American have a 50-50 partnership to develop Pebble, which they say is one of the richest gold and copper deposits in the world. Plans call for starting the permitting process in 2010 with construction beginning as early as 2013.

Phillips said Monday that Holden has no clue what the mine is going to look like, nor does anybody else, until a final plan is developed.

“For a food blogger to already lay out the perimeters of the mine plan is foolish. It is not real because there is no plan yet,” she said.

The other restaurants: Art of the Table, Chiso, Flying Fish, Persimmon, Ponti Seafood Grill, Rover’s Restaurant, Tilth Restaurant, Tilikum Place Cafe, The Pike Brewing Co., Palace Kitchen and Etta’s Seafood.

Filed Under: Emerald Water Anglers Tagged With: chefs, Pebble Mine, restaurants, salmon

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