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ANCHORAGE, Alaska--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The
number and diversity of organizations formally
opposing the Pebble Mine continues to grow.
The Renewable Resources Coalition (RRC)
reported today that Dallas Safari Club and
Wildlife Forever have both written letters
to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin saying the risks
are too high to allow development of Pebble
Mine.
Dallas Safari Club and Wildlife Forever
represent more than 60,000 sportsmen and
women and both organizations are well-respected
on the national conservation scene. Wildlife
Forever is the non-profit conservation arm
of the North American Hunting Club and the
North American Fishing Club with combined
memberships exceeding 1.3 million hunters
and anglers. Wildlife Forever's President
and CEO Doug Grann wrote:
"We are extremely concerned about
the potential development of a massive mining
district in the Bristol Bay region. Wildlife
Forever and our members have contributed
tens of thousands of dollars to conserve
critical fish and wildlife habitat and secure
hunting and fishing access in Southwest
Alaska. The developments being proposed
put at risk the productive habitats we have
sought to conserve. We are educating our
members on the threats posed by mining development,
especially the proposed Pebble Mine."
Grann concluded the letter, "The size,
scope, and risks associated with the proposed
Pebble Mine project are staggering, and
if additional state and federal lands are
developed in the region, the wild character
of Southwest Alaska will be forever lost.
Accordingly, Wildlife Forever opposes any
development in the Bristol Bay region that
would jeopardize one of the world's premier
hunting and fishing destinations."
Dallas Safari Club (DSC) and its charitable
affiliate, the Dallas Ecological Foundation,
have also contributed tens of thousands
of dollars toward land conservation and
hunting and angling access in the region.
DSC's Executive Director Gray Thornton wrote:
"America needs mineral resources to
sustain our standard of living. We also
need wild places, wildlife and wild fish
to sustain our quality of life. Northern
Dynasty's Pebble Mine proposal will jeopardize
habitat we have fought to conserve. Yes,
we need minerals--but at what cost? Hard
rock mining in Bristol Bay? No! The risks
are too great and the costs to fish, wildlife
and wild places too high."
"We're pleased to see the hunting
conservation community weighing-in on this
issue and appreciate partnering with Sportsman's
Alliance for Alaska to educate Wildlife
Forever and Dallas Safari Club on this issue,"
said Richard Jameson of Renewable Resources
Coalition. "These groups join a growing
list of prestigious organizations, including
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Federation
of Fly Fishers and Safari Club International,
who have voiced serious concerns about the
proposed Pebble development."
To view the letters from Wildlife Forever
and Dallas Safari Club in their entirety,
visit http://www.renewableresourcescoalition.org/pebble_scoreboard.htm.
The Renewable Resources Coalition (RRC)
is a non-profit corporation formed to protect
Alaska's fish and game resources and the
existing jobs, families and communities
they support. The Coalition also seeks to
promote public awareness of issues that
affect the well-being of businesses and
individuals that depend upon Alaska's renewable
resources. Learn more at www.renewableresourcescoalition.org.
Contact:
The Renewable Resources Coalition
Richard Jameson, 907-743-1900
or
Dallas Safari Club
Gray Thornton, 800-946-4868
or
Wildlife Forever
Doug Grann, 763-253-0222
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Source: The Renewable Resources Coalition
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