Utah’s Kennecott pit shocks Native Alaskans contemplating the proposed giant Pebble Mine-
Kennecott’s pit on the edge of Salt Lake City has been a fixture of the area for many years. It polluted the ground water and the smelter poisoned the air, but it did not threaten a way of life, nor the larger area. The Pebble Mine, on the other hand, could wipe out a huge salmon run and thousands of moose and caribou in the vicinity of Bristol Bay (Palin’s kid’s name).
A recent sponsored trip for Native leaders to see the similar Utah pit seems to have bothered them. The mine might create good-paying goods, although you have to discount much of wage because it is in high priced Alaska and a remote location. Of course, most of the money will not to go to locals, so it is also a wealth redistribution project.
That’s not for us, say Alaskans after seeing Bingham mine. By Brandon Loomis. The Salt Lake Tribune
Information web site on the Pebble Mine
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Ralph Maughan
Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University with specialties in natural resource politics, public opinion, interest groups, political parties, voting and elections. Aside from academic publications, he is author or co-author of three hiking/backpacking guides, and he is past President of the Western Watersheds Project.
