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Depending
on who or what you believe, there’s a lot to be scared of when it comes to
Ballot Measure 4--the Clean Water Initiative--on this month’s primary ballot.
The Kodiak Chamber of Commerce sponsored a lunchtime forum on the topic today at the Best Western Kodiak Inn. KMXT’s Casey Kelly has
more.
A lot of
money is being spent by both proponents and opponents of Ballot Measure 4. But
both sides agree that the initiative is ostensibly about the proposed Pebble
Mine, a large copper, gold and molybdenum deposit that developers Anglo
American and Northern Dynasty are hoping to turn into one of the world’s
largest open pit mines. The problem is, the proposed site of the mine is at the
headwaters of the world’s richest sockeye salmon run in Bristol Bay. Aurah
Landau is with Alaskans For Clean Water, which was founded specifically to back
measure four.
(Clean
Water 1 :21s “…against that kind of disaster.”)
Landau
argues that the measure’s main effect would be to reinstate rules against
mixing zones in salmon streams for any new large scale mines developed in
Alaska. Mixing zones are areas where water is used to dilute pollution. Landau
says the use of them was made easier under the administration of former
Governor Frank Murkowski.
(Clean
Water 2 :14s “…cyanide, mercury and arsenic.”)
She said
the mining industry and others are using “scare tactics” to make people think
that measure four will shut down mining in the state.
(Clean
Water 3 :43s “…affects to salmon and clean
water.”)
But Jason
Brune with the Resource Development Council, which opposes ballot measure four,
said the scare tactics are being used by pro-Clean Water Initiative groups.
(Clean
Water 4 :36s “…down mining throughout the
state.”)
If the
initiative is passed, Brune warned that it would cost thousands of jobs and
send the wrong message to businesses that want to operate in the state.
(Clean
Water 5 :29s “…regulations they have around the
world.”)
Brune took exception to claims that
the permitting process for mining in Alaska is somehow weak or needs to be
strengthened. Using the Red Dog Mine near Kotzebue as an example, he said
mining has actually been beneficial to the state’s environment.
(Clean Water 6 :26s “…because
of mining at the Red Dog Mine.”)
Voters will have a chance to decide
for themselves which side they believe when they go to the polls August 26th.
I’m Casey Kelly.
HOST
TAG: You can hear longer versions of both the pro and con Ballot Measure 4
presentations on the new Talk of the Rock, Tuesday (this) afternoon at 12:30 on
KMXT.
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