Joint Release with ABBA, BBAN: Advocates for Bristol Bay Announce New Efforts to Support Champions and Advance Dual Track Effort to Protect the Region

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 22, 2022
Press Contact: info@bristolbayactionnow.org 

Advocates for Bristol Bay Announce New Efforts to Support Champions and Advance Dual Track Effort to Protect the Region

As Fresh Polling Shows an Overwhelming Majority in Alaska Welcome EPA Action, New Ad Campaign Supports Dual Track Protections 

ALASKA – Two new campaigns launched today in an effort to finally secure durable protections for Bristol Bay in the decades-long fight against the proposed Pebble Mine – one to advocate for the dual track approach needed to protect the region and one to support champions of Bristol Bay action.

The Bristol Bay Action Now campaign is a new 501(c4) initiative, working to secure durable protections for Bristol Bay and its people through a dual track approach – specifically calling for leaders to finalize the EPA Clean Water Act “Veto” authority to stop Pebble Mine, and to establish enduring protections and investments in a sustainable future for the region through legislation. The campaign supports the leadership of Indigenous people in Bristol Bay who have called on EPA to finish the job this summer, and for the passage of federal legislation this calendar year. Long-time Bristol Bay leaders Robin Samuelsen, AlexAnna Salmon, Katherine Carscallen, and Brian Kraft will serve as lead advisors for the initiative.

In conjunction with the launch, Bristol Bay Action Now released new polling from research firm Moore Information Group that shows broad public support from Alaskans for EPA action in Bristol Bay. Findings are available in this memo, and include:

  • 64% of Alaskans oppose Pebble Mine, including an intense 50% of Alaskans who are strongly opposed to Pebble Mine– compared to only 12% who strongly support it;

  • 62% support a dual-track approach to protect Bristol Bay that uses the Clean Water Act and legislation;

  • 66% support action by the EPA to protect Bristol Bay;

  • 70% of Alaskans agree that it is reasonable to be pro-development and still oppose risky projects like Pebble Mine.

“A very large majority of Alaskan voters are opposed to building the Pebble Mine, and they feel very strongly about it,” said Hans Kaiser, partner with the Moore Information Group as part of a poll memo released today with these results. “There is a lot of intensity on this question and the vast majority of it is in opposition to the mine. In fact, voters in Alaska appear more than willing to consider any solution, including using the EPA’s Clean Water Act or an Act of Congress, to end the threat to Alaska from the Pebble Mine. Getting behind the Pebble Mine today is not a popular position in the state and that is not likely to change.”

In a joint effort with the Bristol Bay Defense Fund coalition, Bristol Bay Action Now also released a new television ad as the first volley in a six-figure ad buy highlighting the broad support for the dual track approach to protect Bristol Bay. View the ad here.

"For too long, our Tribes have lived with the threat of the Pebble Mine devastating our sacred way of life. We have been strong stewards of Bristol Bay since time immemorial and we need action now from our leaders to end the threat of mines like Pebble," said Alannah Hurley, Executive Director of the United Tribes of Bristol Bay. "Together we must protect our region and fishery for generations to come.” 

In addition, Alaskans for Bristol Bay Action formally launched today. Established as a 527 political organization, Alaskans for Bristol Bay Action will partner with Bristol Bay Action Now, by supporting elected officials who fight to protect Bristol Bay, its Indigenous Peoples, commercial fishermen, and Alaska’s economy from Pebble Mine. Alaskans for Bristol Bay Action is also committed to holding accountable those politicians who refuse to stand with the lasting protections for Bristol Bay that the majority of Alaskans want. 

Collectively, these organizations are planning aggressive campaigns to secure lasting Bristol Bay protections and defend champions, and will have campaign budgets well in excess of seven figures.

“Alaskans want our elected leaders to protect Bristol Bay now,”said Rick Halford, Senior Advisor to Alaskans for Bristol Bay Action and former State Senate President. “This organization is about supporting those champions who are fighting to end the threat of Pebble Mine and holding those people accountable who are ignoring Alaskans and refusing to do the right thing for the region, Indigenous Peoples, fishermen, and our economy.”  

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United Tribes of Bristol Bay2022