Author: Adam Back

ANCHORAGE, AK—SalmonState today applauded the issuance of a series of safeguards by the Environmental Protection Agency that will protect the headwaters of salmon-rich Bristol Bay, Alaska, and prevent the construction and operation of the open pit mine. Pebble proposal.

EPA’s Final Determination concludes a science-based deliberative process through the Clean Water Act originally called for by Bristol Bay area tribal governments 13 years ago. Under Section 404(c) of the Clean Water Act, EPA determined whether the proposed massive Pebble Mine could be built and operated without destroying critical wetlands and waterways for salmon. The science laid out in the documents clearly shows that the answer is “no.”

Bristol Bay is home to the largest remaining sockeye salmon run on the planet. In 2022, Bristol Bay broke records for the third consecutive year, with a return of nearly 80 million sockeye salmon.

“Today’s decision may be the most popular thing the federal government has ever done for Alaska,” SalmonState CEO Tim Bristol said. “Thousands of Alaskans and more than a million Americans from across the political spectrum have called for the protection of Bristol Bay’s one-of-a-kind salmon resource from massive strip mining, and today, the EPA delivered.”

“This is a victory for everyone from Bristol Bay tribal citizens, commercial fishermen, sport fishermen, business leaders, chefs, scientists and many more who have spoken out over the years, and we thank the EPA. already Biden. Administration by this well-regarded, heavily documented and overwhelmingly popular movement,” Bristol continued.

“These EPA restrictions and bans, along with the recently completed Pedro Bay conservation initiative, bring a strong sense of relief, but we will not rest until the threat of large-scale, open-pit, acid-waste mining completely removed from the world. headwaters of Bristol Bay,” Bristol said. “This will require vision and leadership from our decision makers, and we look forward to working with them to achieve this goal.”

SalmonState works to keep Alaska a place where wild salmon and the people who depend on them thrive.

The Duck Hunters Organization is adding more than 2,000 nest structures in key duck breeding areas this winter

BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA — Working amid waist-high snowdrifts, Jason Mix-Schneider made history for Delta Waterfowl in a frozen swamp in South Dakota earlier this winter.

A rancher by trade, Mix-Schneider is one of three newly hired coop delivery specialists installing nesting structures in South Dakota as part of a major duck production expansion for Delta Waterfowl. By staking, placing cots and placing nest tunnels in early January, he erected Delta’s first chicken coop program in the state.

Matt Chouinard, Delta’s senior waterfowl program manager, brought a trailer load to Mix-Schneider’s ranch in Veblen, South Dakota, then provided expert instruction and guidance for the first structures.

“Looks good,” Chouinard said as Mix-Schneider fluffed flax nesting material to complete the task. “Congratulations Jason. You just installed the first Delta chicken coop in South Dakota.”

Thanks to a generous donation from John Dale of Waubay, South Dakota, Delta will place 515 chicken coops in the state, all set to keep mallards out of the reach of mammalian predators. Chicken coops have been shown to dramatically increase nesting success, the key driver of duck populations throughout the Prairie Potholes region.

South Dakota nest structures are a large part of the 2,075 new chicken coops Delta will put into service this winter. Delta delivery specialists are building 450 in Manitoba, 400 in Saskatchewan, 300 in Alberta and 210 in North Dakota. Another 200 chicken coops will be installed as part of postgraduate research in California’s Central Valley.

“It’s the highest year-over-year growth in chicken coop history — more than 20 percent,” an excited Chouinard said. “And we’re just starting to really increase the impact of chicken coops across PPR.”

With the additions, Delta’s chicken coop program will have more than 11,700 nest structures by the 2023 nesting season in key mallard breeding areas, including Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, North Dakota, South Dakota South, Minnesota, Iowa, Pennsylvania, and Colorado.

Delta Waterfowl is dramatically increasing the organization’s efforts to produce ducks. In July 2022, Delta announced the ambitious Million Duck Campaign, a $250 million fundraising effort with the goal of adding 1 million ducks to the fall flight each year. At full maturity, the Million Duck campaign will result in more than 110,000 chicken coops welcoming mallards to all North American breeding grounds each spring.

“The areas where we can place chicken coops are almost limitless,” said Joel Brice, director of conservation for Delta Waterfowl. “Chicken coops work wonderfully on farms and ranches, and they are efficient. Most importantly, they produce many mallards, the most popular duck among North American hunters.”

Behind the scenes, Delta’s program team sources steel, wire, and flax straw, as well as assembling a network of people to cut poles, weld cages, and roll tunnels. And, of course, getting materials to Delta’s growing army of delivery specialists like Mix-Schneider.

Every link in the chain is important to meeting Delta’s duck production goals.

“Everything it takes to achieve duck production under the Million Duck campaign is achievable,” Brice said. “We are working to increase delivery. It’s really a matter of logistics and money. We are excited to expand the impact of the Delta Chicken Coop Program to produce more ducks.”

delta waterfowl is The Duck Hunters Organization, a leading conservation group working to raise ducks and secure the future of North American waterfowl hunting. Visit deltawaterfowl.org.

For more information on Delta’s innovative Hen House program, contact Matt Chouinard at [email protected] or (701) 222-8857 ext. 5209.

SOUTHPORT, Conn. – Sturm, Ruger & Co., one of the nation’s leading firearms manufacturers, returns as a sponsor of the 2023 Shooting Sports Showcase in Talladega, AL this spring.

Ruger PR Manager Paul Pluff said: “Ruger is proud to exhibit and sponsor the Shooting Sports Showcase 2023. The event will give us the platform to showcase some of our newest offerings while also demonstrating product quality and reliability to key retail partners along with some of today’s top media influencers.”

Known for their wide range of rugged and reliable pistols, revolvers and rifles, Ruger products are some of the most popular firearms on the market today. Ruger has products to suit just about any sports safety, hunting, and shooting need.

Scheduled for March 28 with a meet and greet the night before, Showcase is a private industry event created to provide firearms and archery manufacturers, dealers, dealers and media the opportunity to spend time together at the shooting range without distractions or extensive travel requirements.

Pre-registration is required, so visit www.shootingsportsshowcase.com for all the information.

About Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc.

Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. is one of the nation’s leading manufacturers of rugged, dependable firearms for the commercial sporting market. With products made in America, Ruger offers consumers nearly 800 variations of more than 40 product lines. For 70 years, Ruger has been a model of corporate and community responsibility. Our motto, “Gun Makers for Responsible Citizens®,” echoes our commitment to these principles as we work hard to deliver quality and innovative firearms. Visit ruger.com for more information.

Border Water Pollution Prevention and Wildlife Protection Act Would Ensure Future Generations Enjoy Public Waters

WASHINGTON, DC — Backcountry Hunters & Anglers welcomes the reintroduction of the Boundary Waters Pollution Prevention and Wilderness Protection Act, legislation sponsored by Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) that would permanently protect the Boundary Waters wilderness Waters Canoe Area, the most visited wilderness area in the United States. A permanent withdrawal from sulfide ore mining in the Upper National Forest upstream of Boundary Waters is critical to ensuring that future generations can enjoy this crown jewel of Minnesota public lands.

“The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the watershed that feeds it are national treasures that deserve permanent protection,” said Land Tawney, president and CEO of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. “We are grateful that Congresswoman McCollum has introduced legislation to do just that, and we ask her colleagues to do the same. Protecting such a special place now and for future generations will ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to experience this unique landscape and that it continues to provide clean water for many. Pass this legislation now!”

Hunters, fishermen and others have long been in strong opposition to Twin Metals’ proposed foreign-owned sulfide ore copper mine located within the Boundary Waters basin. This mining method is unrelated to Minnesota’s Iron Range heritage and has a poor industrial track record that threatens the complexly interconnected hydrology of the Boundary Waters. Representative McCollum’s bill would maintain the region’s pristine ecological quality, unparalleled hunting and fishing opportunities, and the sustainable economic role of local communities.

“Backcountry Hunters & Anglers has fought for the permanent protection of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and its surrounding watershed since the Minnesota chapter’s formation in 2010,” said Aaron Hebeisen, Minnesota chapter coordinator. “It was one of our founding principles and continues to be a key issue for our members. We recognize the importance of mining to northern Minnesota and that this bill would allow traditional mining practices to take place, if mining deposits of taconite and iron ore are located here and can continue to be mined safely. responsible for the ecosystem. While we welcome the recently announced administrative withdrawal of minerals by the US Departments of the Interior and Agriculture, we support the Border Water Pollution Prevention and Wilderness Protection Act as the only solution to permanently protect this nationally treasured area.”

“We applaud Representative McCollum’s unwavering dedication to achieving permanent protection of border waters. On the heels of the recently announced 20-year mineral withdrawal, this important legislation represents the final step to ensure that border waters are protected in perpetuity from copper sulfide mining for future generations of hunters, fishermen and paddlers,” he said. Lukes Leaf. , Executive Director of Sportsmen for Boundary Waters. “We urge all outdoor enthusiasts across the country to contact your members of Congress to express your support for this critical bill.”

Last week, the Biden administration made the decision to place a 20-year moratorium on mining in Boundary Waters following environmental analysis of Boundary Waters and the potential effects of copper and nickel mining in this pristine basin. This decision was applauded by BHA. The administration’s withdrawal prohibits the development of new mineral leases on approximately 225,504 acres of Superior National Forest land within the Boundary Waters watershed for 20 years. However, only Congress can institute permanent mineral extraction.

Last July, Representative McCollum’s bill was introduced by the House Natural Resources Committee. Along with all the other bills that failed to pass during the 117th Congress, it formally expired on January 3, 2023. This reintroduction once again marks the opportunity to permanently protect our frontier waters for future generations of hunters and fishermen. .

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is the voice
for our wild public lands, waters and wildlife.

Learn more about BHA:
Visit our website.
Connect with us on Facebook.
Follow us on Twitter.
Find us on Instagram.
Watch us on YouTube.

katie mckalip
http://www.backcountryhunters.org/

EPA Final Determination Vetoes Proposed Pebble Mine

Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) used its 404(c) authority under the Clean Water Act to halt approval and final construction of the Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay, Alaska. The EPA’s final determination effectively bars Pebble Mine, citing concerns about the impacts of mine waste and discharges on the famous Bristol Bay salmon fishery.

The American Game Fishing Association (ASA) commends this decision and thanks the EPA for acting to ensure clean waters throughout Bristol Bay for years to come. Stopping development of this mine was a team effort between Alaskans, tribes, the outdoor recreation community, partner organizations, and the millions of anglers and sportsmen across the country.

“EPA’s final determination will protect Bristol Bay’s iconic fisheries from the impacts of mining waste, extending crucial safeguards to one of the world’s largest salmon fishing destinations,” said the Director of Inland Fisheries Policy. from ASA, Connor Bevan. “ASA thanks EPA for incorporating the voices of Alaskan communities and tribes, as well as fishermen across the country, who have long opposed the potential impact of the Pebble Mine on the headwaters of Bristol Bay” .

Bevan also thanked the thousands of sport fishing advocates who continually voiced their opposition to the construction of Pebble Mine through ASA’s Keep America Fishing Action Center.

Prior to the ban, the Army Corps of Engineers refused to grant Pebble Mine the necessary federal permits to extract copper, gold and molybdenum from the mine. ASA is hopeful that this is the final step in the potential construction process for this mine.

For future updates or changes to the EPA’s decision, sign up for updates from ASA’s Keep America Fisheries Action Center.

Share in social networks

The American Sport Fishing Association (ASA) is the trade association for the sport fishing industry committed to representing the interests of the sport fishing and boating industries, as well as the entire sport fishing community. We provide the industry and anglers with a unified voice when emerging laws and policies could significantly affect the sport fishing business or sport fishing itself. ASA invests in companies for the long term to ensure the industry remains strong and prosperous, as well as to safeguard and promote the enduring economic, conservation, and social values ​​of America’s sport fishing. ASA also gives America’s 55 million fishermen a voice in political decisions that affect their ability to fish sustainably in our nation’s waterways through Keep America Fishing, our national fisherman advocacy campaign. America’s fishermen generate more than $50 billion in retail sales with a $125 billion impact on the nation’s economy creating jobs for 825,000 people.

The Netherlands. France. And now, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. With three of the world’s four biggest indoor events in the history books, Team Easton’s competitors continue their path to world domination.

Lancaster Archery’s acclaimed 2000 shooter classic has just concluded and Las Vegas champion and archery prodigy Bodie Turner, after two perfect scores in the qualifying round, prevailed in a tight final against team archer Easton Kris Schaff to top the podium at Lancaster in the premiere Open Pro category. . Both Bodie and Kris relied on the incredibly precise Easton X7 spindle to
their dazzling performances. And, two-time Las Vegas champion Liko Arreola battled her way to a bronze medal in the women’s compound final with the Easton Superdrive.

In the men’s recurve, the Easton shooters swept the podium with Brady Ellison winning his first major championship of the year. He took home his gold in the final against runner-up Jack Williams and Indian Sachin Gupta came third.

In the women’s recurve, Olympian Casey Kaufhold defeated Dutch seed Gaby Schloesser in the final for the gold medal, with Savannah Vanderweir taking bronze again to give the Easton shooters another sweep of the recurve podium.

The next and final stop on the world-class indoor circuit is the Vegas Shoot next weekend. The Team Easton booth will feature limited-edition Vegas Shoot merchandise and celebrate the end of Easton’s 100th anniversary commemoration.

For more information on Easton made-in-the-USA arrows, visit your authorized Easton dealer or
www.eastonarchery.com

EDGEFIELD, SC—When we think of the NWTF and Tennessee, we can’t help but think of our 50th anniversary celebration in Nashville on the horizon, but that’s not the only thing to celebrate in the State of Volunteers: the State Chapter. from the NWTF of Tennessee recently helped expand research efforts that will ultimately benefit turkeys and turkey hunters.

The new research builds on the work of an active six-year research project led by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and the University of Tennessee.

During the six years of the project, he has helped TWRA manage wild turkeys with the best available science and has helped collect essential information for the management of wild turkeys, including population vital rates (such as estimates of reproductive success and survival), habitat use, hunter attitudes and effort, disease ecology, and the effects of habitat management.

“We are excited to continue this research partnership with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and the National Wild Turkey Federation to address several important questions that have arisen over the past few years,” said David Buehler, Ph.D., professor of wildlife sciences from UT. “Because of the intensive monitoring we have conducted over the past six years of more than 700 radio-tagged hens and gobblers and more than 225 poults, we are uniquely positioned to address contemporary questions such as the effect of the two-week delay on the productivity of the turkeys. and populations. Tennessee’s science-based approach to turkey management should serve as a model for others to follow.”

“This project has provided important information to our agency,” said Roger Shields, coordinator of the TWRA and NWTF wild turkey program. technical committee representative. “The most important thing is to understand that the observed decline in the turkey population here is not due to poor adult survival, but rather low productivity. Almost overall, we’re seeing reproductive rates are lower than we would expect for a stable turkey population.”

While the NWTF Tennessee state chapter was involved in the Tennessee project at the beginning, the state chapter is providing additional funding to scale up the project and extend the data collection period.

“Because of the success of our research to date, we have an excellent opportunity to continue this research to further consider the impact of the timing of hunting seasons on productivity and to address several other important management-related questions,” said Shields. .

These additional questions that the project aims to answer in 2023 are:

1. Does the two-week delay in the opening of the season influence the basic reproductive parameters, based on data from the last six years plus 2023?
2. What is the effect of mammalian predator abundance on turkey survival and reproduction at the 10 sites TWRA and UT have monitored over the past six years plus 2023?
3. What are the effects of site-specific, adapted field and forest management actions on the structure and composition of vegetation used for nursery habitat?

With around 70 hens still radium-tagged from last year and with six years of prior data, TWRA and UT are well positioned to address this new aspect of research.

“We have collected data, which has yet to be fully analyzed, in 2021 and 2022,” Shields said. “These data, in addition to what we collect this year, will give us a broader range to assess the effects of turkey season opening date on basic turkey reproductive parameters, including nesting rate, dates onset of nesting, clutch size, hatching rate, and nesting success. ”

The project will also seek to understand the effects of mammalian predators on wild turkeys by analyzing predator images taken by trail cameras at 10 different study sites. This information will help to illustrate how predator abundance changes from winter to breeding season. The research will then relate predator abundance to turkey reproduction and survival to determine if there are any correlations.

“When this project was started six years ago, it was probably the most comprehensive single study ever done on this important game bird,” Shields said. “The complexity of the questions that are being investigated to understand what is happening to these birds and their populations requires this type of extensive and intensive research that looks at all aspects of bird ecology and behaviour. The wealth of information we are gaining is, and will continue to be, incredibly valuable to TWRA as we consider turkey management recommendations for years to come.”

The NWTF Tennessee State Chapter helped fund the project from its early phases and is excited to support a new dimension of understanding.

“We are proud to commit $15,000 to this project from the NWTF Super Fund account,” said Mark Darnell, president of the NWTF Tennessee State Chapter. “Research will continue to increase our understanding of how timing of the season affects reproductive parameters such as nest initiation, clutch size, and hatchability. In addition, investigating the effect of mammalian predator abundance on the survival and reproduction of wild turkeys will help us gain a better understanding of predator/prey relationships.”

The Tennessee State Chapter also recently collaborated with the Indiana State Chapter on another University of Tennessee research project that is investigating fertilization of eggs and evidence of early embryonic mortality in wild turkey eggs collected from various eastern places. You can learn more about that project here.

About the National Wild Turkey Federation

Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested more than half a billion dollars in wildlife conservation and has conserved or improved more than 22 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The organization continues to advance wildlife conservation, forest resiliency, and robust recreational opportunities across the US by working beyond borders at the landscape scale.

2023 is the 50th of the NWTF^he anniversary and an opportunity to push the organization’s mission into the future while honoring its rich history. for his 50^he anniversary, the NWTF has set six ambitious goals: positively impact 1 million acres of wildlife habitat; raise $500,000 for wild turkey research; increase membership to 250,000 members; dedicate $1 million to education and outreach programs; raise $5 million to invest in technology and the people of NWTF; and raise $5 million to build a $50 million endowment for the future. Find out how you can help us achieve these lofty goals.

Brandon Maddox, CEO of Silencer Central, America’s largest muffler distributor, is officially an active member of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) Board of Directors. Maddox will join the mission to promote, protect and advance America’s outdoor traditions.

“I am proud to begin serving as a member of the CSF Board of Directors,” said Maddox. “This respected and trusted organization is constantly working to protect and defend our industry, and I am delighted to be a part of that as we work to protect our heritage in the great outdoors.”

As the most respected and trusted sports organization in the political arena, the CSF works with Congress, governors and state legislatures to protect and improve hunting, angling, recreational shooting and trapping. The Board of Directors is comprised of leaders from the outdoor community and associated industries dedicated to the service, mission, objectives and goals of the Congressional Athlete Foundation.

“Brandon has been a tremendous advocate for the continued economic growth of South Dakota and our 2^{North Dakota} Amendment liberties,” South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem said. “I’m glad South Dakota has such a strong voice on the Congressional Athletes Foundation Board of Directors.”

An award-winning business leader with more than 25 years of strategic leadership experience, Maddox is recognized as a national thought leader in helping consumers purchase sound suppressors to mitigate the sound and recoil of their firearms. As a pharmacist by trade, his experience navigating state pharmaceutical regulations in many states gave him valuable skills when he began operating out of his basement. What began as Maddox’s home-based Federal Firearms License (FFL) evolved into a manufacturer, wholesaler and distributor of silencers that has grown into the national brand it is today. Maddox’s experience understanding the statutes governing firearm sales makes him a popular voice for the industry. He is passionate about nature and has spent nearly two decades perfecting his experience on the West Dakota prairies.

“The Congressional Athlete Foundation is honored to have Brandon join our Board of Directors,” said Jeff Crane, CSF President and CEO. “As a passionate sportsman and accomplished entrepreneur for one of the fastest growing companies in the firearms sound suppression industry, Brandon will bring a fresh perspective that will help us further the mission of CSF and continue to build on the work he has done. we do in developing and advocating for legislation that protects and promotes our outdoor traditions.”

For more information, visit SilencerCentral.com or call 888-781-8778. To learn more about the Congressional Athletes Foundation, visit congressionalsportsmen.org.

About Silencer Central:

Silencer Central began its illustrious journey in 2005 as South Dakota Silencer, an event-based company created with the goal of reaching the underserved sport shooting and hunting market by simplifying the silencer ownership process. It became the Dakota Silencer and was eventually renamed Silencer Central after expanding its streamlined process in August 2020 to all 42 states where silencers are legal. Ranked in the 2022 Inc. 5000 list of Fastest Growing Companies, Silencer Central simplifies buying a silencer by managing the entire buying process for the consumer, providing a free NFA Gun Trust, offering interest-free payment options, and drop shipping at your doorstep, once approved.

TrueTimber, the world’s best-selling camo brand, will return as title sponsor on the No. 5 CJB Motorsports sprint car driven by Spencer Bayston for the 2023 World of Outlaws season. The No. 5 will sport a variety of TrueTimber camo patterns, including the currently featured RipTide camo, which will make its official debut during the World of Outlaws opening at Volusia Speedway Park in DeLeon Springs, Florida on Thursday, February 9.

“We are very excited to be in the No. 5 car again this year and look forward to another great season,” said TrueTimber CEO Rusty Sellars. “Spencer and the CJB team connected us with so many new fans in 2022 and really helped grow our presence in the World of Outlaws arena. It was exciting to see Spencer win Rookie of the Year and be so successful last year and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for him and the rest of the team.”

Bayston had an exciting season in 2022, finishing eighth overall in the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series with two wins, 16 top-fives and 39 top-10s. He closed out the year with back-to-back top-ten appearances at the World Finals at The Dirt Track in Charlotte, finishing eighth each time. His continued success throughout the season earned him the 2022 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year award. Bayston’s car featured TrueTimber RipTide and Strata camo paint schemes throughout the season.

“We are delighted to continue our relationship with TrueTimber Camo. This partnership has proven to be mutually beneficial, and I am confident that your support will ultimately help us compete for a World of Outlaws championship,” explained Chad Clemens, owner of CJB Motorsports. “We are fortunate to have the opportunity to compete in front of such a compassionate and brand-loyal fan base, and it is their support of TrueTimber that makes this relationship work. I am confident that only great things await this team.”

To learn more about the entire TrueTimber product line and to view all available patterns, visit TrueTimber.com. Details on future product releases can be found on the TrueTimber Facebook and Instagram pages.

About TrueTimber

Founded in 2005, TrueTimber is headquartered in Inman, South Carolina, and is the most realistic and performance-driven camo brand in the industry. TrueTimber offers a wide range of clothing and accessory items, featuring a variety of distinctive camo patterns that blend seamlessly into their surroundings. The company spends countless hours researching, testing, and finding new technologies to produce the most effective and realistic camouflage patterns possible. TrueTimber products can be found at retailers throughout the United States and Canada, and it continues to be one of the fastest growing camo companies in the world. To learn more about TrueTimber, visit TrueTimber.com.

EPA’s Clean Water Act Final Determination 404(c) Prohibits and Restricts Mine Waste Discharge into the Bristol Bay Watershed and Protects Fish, Rivers, and a Way of Life; The movement is celebrated by Alaskans, fishermen, and hunters.

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publicly announced a Clean Water Act 404(c) Final Determination finding that mine waste would harm the Bristol Bay watershed and restricted its discharge into rivers, streams, and wetlands in the North and South Fork of the Koktuli River and Upper Talarik Creek, rivers in the vicinity of the Pebble deposit.

The decision effectively impedes development of the long-proposed Pebble gold-copper mine, which for decades has threatened the world’s most productive wild sockeye salmon routes, Alaska’s strongest Chinook salmon route, and famed fishing industries. sport and commercial fishing in the region.

“This is an incredible day for the Bristol Bay region.” said Nelli Williams, Alaska director for Trout Unlimited. “For more than a decade, the science has remained strong and public support has been unwavering for the protections of the Clean Water Act. An Alaska-sized thank you to the Biden Administration and EPA for listening to Alaskans, tribes, fishermen and hunters, and for doing the right thing for a world-class renewable resource and the people and jobs that depend on it. of the. The work on Bristol Harbor is not finished yet, but today is a milestone to be celebrated.”

“Pebble Mine would destroy massive amounts of water and land in the heart of a wild, pristine and productive landscape. These safeguards are reserved for special places and Bristol Bay fits the bill. While more work remains to be done, with this news we can start working towards a bright future for Bristol Bay without the shadow of the Pebble mine constantly hanging over our heads,” said Brian Kraft, President of Katmai Service Providers and operator of two Bristol Bay fishing lodges. “This sends another very strong message to the Pebble Partnership: your mine is not wanted here; we have better plans for Bristol Bay.”

“The 404(c) Clean Water Act protections have always been a common sense safeguard for Bristol Bay. Today, the people and businesses in Alaska and across the country who stood up for Bristol Bay should take a bow, because their efforts have protected the world’s most important wild salmon streams and the communities that depend on them,” said Chris. Wood, President and CEO of Trout Unlimited. “It is time for Pebble to recognize that it will never have the community or the legal capacity to develop this mine. Now, it is time for us to further strengthen protections for the entire Bristol Bay basin to match the scope of the threat to this special place.”

Today’s news caps a more than 13-year process to protect Bristol Bay from the proposed Pebble mine. Section 404(c) of the Clean Water Act gives EPA the authority to restrict, prohibit, or deny the discharge of mine waste into the waters of a region if it determines that it will have unacceptable adverse impacts on fisheries or water resources. Alaskan tribes, sport fishing groups, and commercial fishermen first petitioned the EPA to act in 2010. After numerous rounds of scientific review and public comment, including support from hundreds of companies and organizations, the proposed protections they were published in 2014, but were never finalized.

In 2019, the EPA, under the Trump administration, attempted to withdraw the proposed 2014 Bristol Bay Determination, a snap decision with no scientific justification and without regard to public comment. Trout Unlimited challenged the EPA’s decision in court, considering it arbitrary and capricious and contrary to the governing norm of the Clean Water Act. In July 2021, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of TU, ​​finding that EPA could withdraw a proposed determination only if the discharge of materials was unlikely to have an “unacceptable adverse effect.”

Following the lawsuit, EPA Administrator Michael Regan vowed to work to protect the fishery. In May 2022, EPA issued a revised Proposed Determination reflecting analysis of new scientific data. More than half a million comments were submitted to the EPA this summer in support of ending the Clean Water Act’s protections. In all, more than four million comments submitted during seven public input periods supported ending 404(c) protections for the Bristol Bay watershed.

The final determination comes just six months after the Bristol Bay region set a new record with 79 million sockeye salmon returning to its rivers, streams and lakes. The 404(c) safeguards add another important layer of protection for the Bristol Bay watershed from the proposed Pebble mine. The Clean Water Act 404 permit for the proposed mine was denied by the Army Corps of Engineers in 2020. In December 2022, the Pedro Bay Corporation finalized an agreement to place 44,000 acres of land in conservation easements, complicating the main proposed road corridor for the Pebble Mine.

Trout Unlimited, the nation’s oldest and largest cold-water fisheries conservation organization, is dedicated to caring for and restoring America’s rivers and streams so our children can experience the joy of native trout and salmon and wild. Across the country, TU brings local, regional, and national grassroots organizations, enduring partnerships, science-backed political strength, and legal firepower on behalf of salmon and trout fisheries, healthy waters, and vibrant communities. In Alaska, we work with athletes to ensure the state’s salmon and trout resources stay healthy well into the future through our local chapters and offices in Anchorage and Juneau.

Katmai Service Providers represents 64 Alaskan fishing, hunting, bear watching and tourism businesses operating in the Bristol Bay region. The group is dedicated to protecting resources through stewardship, promoting public access, fostering cooperation among users, participating in future development planning, promoting safety and education, and improvement of recreational activities in Katmai National Park. Brian Kraft is the president of KSP and the owner of two Southwest Alaska sport fishing lodges, one in Igiugig, Alaska and one near Dillingham, Alaska. https://katmaipark.org/