Pebble CEO Tom Collier resigns

A silver sign that says "The Pebble Partnership"
A sign at the Pebble office in Dillingham (KDLG Photo)

Tom Collier has resigned as the CEO of Pebble Limited Partnership, according to a news release from Pebble’s parent company, Northern Dynasty Minerals.

Northern Dynasty says Collier resigned because of his comments about Alaska’s elected leaders and federal regulators. The calls were secretly recorded by an environmental group who had men working undercover, posing as potential investors. 

RELATED: Pebble execs tell ‘investors’ that Murkowksi and Sullivan are no barrier to controversial mine

Pebble CEO Tom Collier at a U.S. House hearing in 2015. (Liz Ruskin/Alaska Public Media)

The group, called the Environmental Investigation Agency, released over an hour of tapes Monday. On them, Collier and Northern Dynasty CEO Ron Thiessen spoke of their plans to operate the mine for 180 years longer than the 20 year plan proposed. They also said Sens. Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski would not do anything to prevent it from going forward, despite their recent statements that the mine should not receive a federal permit.

Both senators said they stand by their statements last month that the mine, as proposed, should not get a federal permit.

“The unethical manner in which these tapes were acquired does not excuse the comments that were made, or the crass way they were expressed,” said Thiessen. “On behalf of the Company and our employees, I offer my unreserved apology to all those who were hurt or offended, and all Alaskans.”

Northern Dynasty has named former Pebble CEO John Shively as interim CEO. 

This is a developing story

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