EARTHblog » Bonnie Gestring
October 11, 2011
Good news. The EPA is considering adding phosphate mines to the list of industries that must report the amount of toxic pollution they release into air, water and land. What? They don’t do this already? No. And, they should.
Phosphate mines are responsible for large releases of selenium, which is harmful to wildlife, livestock, fisheries, and public health.
August 30, 2011
Spawning salmon in Hanson Creek.
Photo: Nick Hall
It s no surprise that there is overwhelming concern over the impact of the proposed Pebble Mine on the Bristol Bay salmon fishery. It s the world s largest wild salmon fishery, and the economic engine for the region.
Anglo American, the UK-based company proposing the mine, says that mining and salmon can co-exist, and they point to the Fraser River as an example of that.
These two river systems are so different it s an odd comparison. But, more importantly, it completely undermines (no pun intended) their case.
A new paper by two fisheries biologists reports that impaired water quality and human development changes have resulted in the lowest productivity of Fraser River sockeye in over 50 years!