Project Would Have Endangered the World’s Largest Salmon Run, Thousands of American Fishing Jobs

Today, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) applauded the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s decision to block the Pebble Mine project in Bristol Bay, Alaska. 

The decision comes following a push by Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez, who wrote to EPA Administrator Michael Regan last week urging the department to block the project to preserve this critical salmon habitat and the fishing jobs that depend on it.

“The Pebble Mine project would have been disastrous for Southwest Washington’s environment and fishing economy, and I’m thankful that the EPA stepped up to protect Bristol Bay for years to come,” said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez. “Our state relies on healthy salmon fisheries, and in Congress, I’ll continue to fight for Washington’s fishing families and way of life.”

According to a study produced by the EPA, the Pebble Mine project posed a serious threat to the Bristol Bay watershed – which is home to the largest sockeye salmon run in the world – and would have destroyed between 24 and 94 miles of waterways and salmon habitat and contaminated 48 to 62 miles of streams with toxic waste.