The Pebble Mine is being prepared for permitting later this year.
Mining company Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. announced Tuesday that $107 million has been approved to prepare the mine in southwest Alaska for permitting, with the process beginning in the fall.
Pebble is a huge copper and gold deposit that sits near some of the world’s last and best wild salmon-producing rivers. Supporters say the project will provide good jobs for years. But opponents say the mine poses an unacceptable danger to salmon, the region’s valuable renewable resource.
Northern Dynasty President and CEO Ronald Thiessen said meetings will be held with stakeholders in the fall to discuss the project and how it is shaping up. This year’s goal, he said, is to finalize a project description and prefeasibility study.
