Monday, Lake and Peninsula Borough officials are wrapping up the ballot count on the ‘Save Our Salmon’ Initiative in King Salmon. The ballot measure would ban the Lake and Peninsula Borough from issuing permits for large-scale resource extraction, including mining that would “destroy or degrade” salmon habitat. It’s aimed at stopping the Pebble Mine, a massive gold and copper prospect near salmon spawning grounds. Voter turnout in the mail-in election was high, about 57 percent. There were 93 question ballots and 515 valid ballots. The vote is unlikely to be the last word on the Pebble Mine project. A challenge to the initiative has already been filed in court. The judge on that case put his decision on whether the initiative is constitutional on hold until November 7th. The results of the vote will be posted on the Lake and Peninsula Borough’s website before 10pm.
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