SEATTLE -- The E.P.A. (EPA) has released a revised version of the Bristol Bay Assessment for peer review follow-up and public comment. The assessment released today includes updates following an initial peer review and public review period of the outline Bristol Bay Assessment released in May, 2012. E.P.A. is arranging for the original independent, scientific peer reviewers to evaluate the revisions made following their feedback. E.P.A. is also inviting the public to submit comments until May 31, 2013.
The peer review follow-up and review period are meant to ensure that E.P.A. is using the best accessible science for its assessment, and that information from a range of stakeholders is considered, including industry, conservation groups, and Tribes. The revised assessment reflects feedback from the initial peer review report and 233,000 public comments E.P.A. received when it released the original assessment.
Key changes to the assessment include:
Refinement and better explanation of the mine scenarios assessed, including the role in developing these scenarios of worldwide industry requirements for porphyry copper mining and specific preliminary mine projects submitted to state and federal agencies related to the Pebble Mine Project.
- Incorporation of modern conventional mining practices into mine scenarios and clarification that some of the projected impacts assume that those practices are in place and working properly.
- Addition of an appendix describing methods to compensate for impacts to wetlands, streams and fish.
- Reorganization of the assessment to better reflect the ecological risk assessment approach and to clarify the purpose and scope.
- Additional details about projected water loss and water quality impacts on stream reaches, drainage of waste rock leachate to streams, and mine location water balance to assessment of potential mine impacts.
Expanded information on the potential transportation corridor, including analysis of potential diesel pipeline spills, product concentrate spills, truck accidents involving process chemicals and culvert failures.
The public review period ends May 31, 2013.
E.P.A. released the outline Bristol Bay Assessment on May 18, 2012. The agency held a series of public meetings concurrent with the release and received feedback from twelve independent expert peer reviewers.
In February 2011, in response to growing interest in large-scale mining in the watershed from a number of stakeholders and local communities with a range of views, E.P.A. launched the Bristol Bay assessment to gain a better understanding of the watershed and the potential impacts of large-scale mining in the area. The assessment provides a scientific foundation for future decision-making by federal and state agencies and to inform public discussion. E.P.A. has made no decisions about using its Clean Water Act authorities in Bristol Bay.
After this peer review follow-up and public review period are complete, E.P.A. will review feedback and move forward to finalize the assessment. E.P.A. intends to issue a final assessment in 2013.
To review the revised assessment, for instructions how to submit comments, and to learn more about the Bristol Bay Assessment, visit:
http://www.epa.gov/bristolbay
