Comments on: Op-ed: A Potential Copper Bonanza Runs Afoul of the EPA

By: John Stone

John Stone — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 21:39:00 +0000

Enjoyed the article by McGroarty in the WSJ, and have sent the following to the WSJ: “The success of Homo sapiens as a species is utterly dependent on the use of hard minerals. We may have opposable thumbs, walk upright, and have a pretty good brain, but the distinguishing feature of our success as a species is our ability to make use of hard minerals (iron, copper, salt, flint knives and arrow points, etc.) In fact it is virtually impossible to name a single article of commerce that does not depend, either directly or indirectly, on the use of hard minerals, Try it yourself?”

By: brian w

brian w — Thu, 25 Jul 2013 20:23:00 +0000

Thank you for taking the time to make a detailed reply to my message. Have you ever gone to a county or city building department to obtain a building permit? What a nightmare experience it can be! Just to, say replace an old forced air furnace. If you bring plans with you, the plans have to have “this” and “that”, you have to pay more money for a “plan check” and wait for longer periods of time until the plan checker finishes checking your plans. Usually it’s an overnight wait however it can take 5 or 6 weeks. Then there are other departments within the agency that need to sign off on your plans: environmental health, fire department, public works, public utility districts. This is all because you provided a set of plans to show what you were going to do. Yet when one goes to the same department, with the same people working the counter, if you say, “I need a mechanical repair permit because my furnace wore out”, then the permit is issued right then and there. You DON’T tell them you’re going to replace all the ductwork (even though you are). “Only doing a ‘furnace change out’ ” is what you say.
So when it comes to big projects, a mining company hires someone (project manager for instance) who knows “what to say” to the regulatory agencies. The process is still democratic and comments are reviewed. A good project manager says very little. Pebble will require a good project manager.

By: ARPN

ARPN — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 14:30:00 +0000

While accidents like the Bingham slide undoubtedly occur, they remain few and far-between. To condemn the entire industry based on isolated examples overlooks the significant benefits conferred by the majority of (environmentally-safe) domestic natural resource projects.

The permitting process is designed to examine these risks and take into account all perspectives. When a company presents its mine plan, every interest — local communities, environmental impacts, conservationist concerns — is reviewed with expert input and public comment. In the end, the mine in question is approved or denied — or, as is almost always the case, amended in response to the concerns raised. It’s a very transparent, democratic process.

To stop a project before it enters the permitting process is a dangerous precedent. That’s ARPN’s issue when it comes to Pebble, or any other proposed mining project. If we hope to reap the benefits of these efforts, we have to let the process work.

By: ARPN Team

ARPN Team — Thu, 18 Jul 2013 20:59:33 +0000

While accidents like the Bingham slide undoubtedly occur, they remain few and far-between. To condemn the entire industry based on select examples overlooks the significant benefits conferred by the majority of (environmentally-safe) domestic natural resource projects.

By: brian w

brian w — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 16:01:00 +0000

The comparing of the local Alaskan government to an anti-mining government in Iran leads me to dismiss your entire argument. The important thing to remember here is that mining is messy and it is normal for mining companies, both individually and collectively, to take safety and environmental shortcuts. Look at the Bingham slide. What a financial disaster, because someone in management wanted to save money on the pit wall design. Why would the public believe Pebble would be a “better” mine? I think what is happening is that a number of investors want the project moving forward for their own personal financial and political gain. Forget about Pebble for now. It’s not going to happen.

By: Dan

Dan — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 20:35:00 +0000

Copper is wonderful. Unfortunately, the world’s salmon population is of far greater importance for both economy and ecology. If you think the opposition to the Pebble Mine is comprised solely of liberal quacks, head up to Bristol Bay and talk to the people there who would rather keep their jobs for decades to come rather than accept a quick buck that will destroy their homes and industry, they’ll be happy to talk to you.