I agree with with what you said on senitive areas. When they are talking of a mine that will leave behind toxins untill the end of time. It's just a time bomb waiting to go off. We will be like Butte, Montana. Spending tons of money to keep the water clean long after N.D. pulls out.

I think white17 about summed up the ANWR thing.

jamill you obviously do not know me and my "closed mind" Nor do you know the history that has already happened as far as promises of training by Pebble. So let me enlighten you. First off I work in training developing training opportunities is one of the many parts of my job. When the pebble project first became noticed they made promises of wanting to train and hire the local people as time went on many insinuations of local hire and trained individuals were made. We receieved list of what types of job people could expect to see avalaiable at Pebble and the bulk of them were very techincal invoving process tech degrees that quite frankley are loded with math classes. We really ramped up our information to young people based on what Pebble provided. Two things have happened since then One people became worried about the project and started fighting the idea of the mine. two pebble stoped the information.
You go on to say that

"I personally think that maybe it is time for people to start pushing the idea that kids need to go off to school and get degrees and further there education. Then they will be able to return home to good jobs."

Well let me tell you buster not only is that already being done it is being done by both my wife and myslef as part of our jobs but quite frankley the young perople are more interested in finding careers that will help protect the land and region in wich they live not rape it. Now who am I to shove the idea of any career down a young persons throat that would be totaly unethical and cost me my job. The young people of this region are going to school at almost the same rate that you and your friends are in Juneau and I don't apperciate the attitude that they insinuates that they don't wish to be educated. I have three college age children 2 in college one is not. The Co I work for gave almost 70 scholarships worth over $4000 apiece last month to residents of the Bristol Bay region The Co my wife works for gave over 100 scholarships so don't go saying we don't want education Our kids are just smart enought to realize the danger this mine poses and don't want much to do with it.
These are college scholarships and don't even include the training scholarships.

If you want to be pro mine that is one thing but be carefull not to make assumptions about an entire population and say things that seem to say they don't want nor are educated.

Now let me mention one more thing your mine down in Juneau may very well be nice and clean and everything maybe hunky dory that will be truthfully seen 20 yrs or more after it closes. And I do hope it continues to work but if you take some of your internet skills and do a little searching on Northern Ds new partner you will find some very evil things they have done to make sure thier mines produce I will leave the searching up to you but remember they operate all over the world and you will need to search all over to get the true picture.
Northern Dynasty has proclaimed we will do it only if it can be done safely yet they just got into bed with one of the worst companies they could have because a couple of the other good ones backed off when they saw all that was involved. This tells me they don't really care about anything but the money.

Uhhh...if that doesn't sound closed minded......



Your job is to help them advance, and if schooling is what they need then you point them in that direction. Glad to see you are the judge of what is ethical and what isn't. Uhh...can you say "closed minded". I can, and I'll point a finger when I say it, or a simple glance in the mirror will help you find that person.



You're making this too easy for me. Again, CLOSED MINDED!!!



I think you should read your own words and then maybe not make assuptions for "an entire population". Awfully nice of you to speak for everyone else.



Now....THATS NOT JUDGMENTAL OR ANYTHING!?!?!?!?!?!?!

I gotta say, I'm for the mining. There are regulations set in place for them to follow, and that is EXACTLY what they do. Many agencies look into the practices of mining companies and they outline the rules and regulations that they are to follow. AND GUESS WHAT FOLKS; they do just that. Follow those rules. So, if you're going to gripe about the mining companies, don't. Gripe about the regulations and standards that are put forth that they follow. Because, frankly, THOSE ARE LACKING in what is needed.

Now, I'm sure ol' Otterman is gonna delete this post and will then ban me from this web site. He already threatened me about getting a time out, just because I disagreed with something he wrote. Not only that, I actually agreed with him was just joking around, yet he STILL threatend me with a banning. Well, so be it if thats how you choose.

Some one disagrees with you, and you have a problem, even if its ONLY their opinion.

I will be back......and I will post this thread every time I return.

Man......maybe shouldn't have had that last beer.

Otterman, Im not trying to insult you or your family. I was just making a broad statement, trying to say that for the positions that are going to be available when the mine is in operation; not all will be highly technical jobs. The way the sentence I quoted; made it seem (to ME) as though not a lot of children were going to off to school. I think it's great that companies are getting behind the youth of tomorrow and helping them with school.

I wasnt trying to insult or make anyone mad. Just trying to say that this project could be a great thing if and when it goes into operations.

Yes, I am pro mining, and believe that the agencies that regulate these mines environmentally will regulate Pebble and protect the fish/ wildlife.

Jake

Jake, this is where I disagree. As much as I deal with the Corps of engineers, DNR, DEC, and everything else that has to do with wildlife, fish, and environment, NONE of these companies are adequate. I feel they'll be an issue later on. But the mining companies can only follow the rules and regulations that are set in place now. Its not their fault, they are playing by the rules. However, the rules DO need to be more strict!!!!!

Please be civil in y'all's responses, or be gone with this thread. This subject is obviously a sensitive area that doesn't need much poking to cause trouble.

I think the people that live the closest to an area that could be effected be it mining or oil should have the last call but doubt that will ever happen anywhere when money is top priority

Well after much thought on how to keep this from turning into a whizzing match that has something to do with other things that should have taken place in a PM vs the open forum I will respond with this.
Jamill and Alaskan you are right I am closed minded about the subject in that my mind is made up I never said I wasn’t. I am admittedly very opposed to the mine. With that being said I encourage both of you to look at some of the things we are hearing about N. Dynasty’s new partner and maybe you will understand my fear of them.
Alaskan you are very correct when you say the rules need to be more strict in fact as I understand it the rules in AK. for mining are lacking to say the least.
Simply put I have avoided talking about the mine here on Tman as it is a very emotional issue for me. As I said previously I grew up in the silver mines of N.Idaho and have seen first hand the damage they created. It is very hard for me to keep my emotions out of this as I feel so strongly about it.

Tokatna, you have a good point but I don't think it is realistic. Would any mine, power plant, or industrial complex ever be built if it was up to the people who lived there? Look at how many products you have that came from mines, those mines are in someone's backyard. I am not necesarily for or against this mine, I don't know enough about it.

ok, so I have read all the posts... and it seems like everything, everyone has thier own opinion...and it seems that at the least, everyone agrees that the mine can be harmful to the environment, and locals.
I think it is good that people are discussingthis here, asit can effect all of us. It alsomay shed some light to the out of staters too,as to the conflicts, which effect the "wilderness
living"
bearbait,
I don't think a power plant is the same as an open pit mine of this scale.

sure, jobs for locals, jobs for alaskans, money pumped into the economy, investment in infrastructre are all positive things.
However, i think that the "POSSIBLE" negatives far outwiegh the positive factors.
but like most everything else, they are going to come in rape the land,take advantage of the locals and natives, change their way of life (shortterm positive, long term negative), take what they want, leave us with the mess to clean up..

we can't even hold exxon accountable for their spill, how is there going to be any accountability for this mine project??

I think instead of personal feelings, we could better discuss this with facts, concerns and arguments pro and con..

Very good thoughts Hupurest.
Some of you may find this website interesting they do lean very heavily in one direction but there is some information thre that I touched on previously
http://www.waronwant.org/angloamerican

Are there still lingering effects from the Valdez spill? Does the seawater eventually clean things up? Haven't heard a thing about it for several years now. Thanks.

gary,
if you dig down on the beach,you will find a layer thathas been covered up, thatis still there.

the commercial herring fishing has not recovered at all, the sea otters are mostly recovered, I think most aquatic organisims are partially recovered, I don't have exact figures.

what I do know is that they still owe a couple of billion dollars in damages to people, working fisherman and others whose lively hood was directly affected. yet they somehow still appeal it, put it off. I also believe they owe a good chunk to the state of alaska yet..

This is a little change in direction but I'm not trying to skew the conversation.

If the herring fishery hasn't recovered yet, could it be that the oil has affected kelp growth in that area? If I remember correctly , herring roe is deposited on kelp during spawning. Anyone know how that works?

Otterman: Good post. It is an emotional issue for sure. Thanks for stepping up like that.

Any gold mine is better than a national park.

Bill

Sorry BC, but I am sure that was not called for......

-TJ