Sustainable Mining

Is sustainable mining possible for a project like the proposed Pebble Mine located in the pristine and remote Alaska wilderness.

What is Sustainable Mining?

Sustainable mining is a strategy for improving the performance of mining by aligning its actions with the priorities and values of the local inhabitants. This should include a process for finding the common grounds with nature, wildlife, people and communities in order to construct and maintain safer and acceptable mining practices necessary for those today as well as in the future.

What Should Be Considered In The Process?

Will the people's lives be maintained and/or improved?

Will the integratiey of the enviroment be maintained over the long term?

Will the local economy achieve the maximum benefit from the mining operation?

Are traditional and non-market activities of the people and communities maintained to an acceptable level?

Is Sustainable Mining possible?

First off, let us not forget the lessons from previous incidents in Alaska. The responsible company entrusted with developing this mine must be actively engaged with environmental concerns, and their approach should emphasize sustainability as a piece of the business model not an after-the-fact mitigation tool for their lawyers.

Canada has nearly 60 percent of the mining and exploration companies in the world; they generate more than 40 billion dollars annually, representing about four percent of Canada's GDP.