The Pebble Project is located approximately 200 miles southwest of Anchorage in the Bristol Bay region. The deposit lies entirely within the Lake and Peninsula Borough, approximately 23,782 square miles of land which is home to some 1,500 people in 18 communities.
Southwest Alaska - Regional Map
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The area around Pebble was secured by the State of Alaska during the Cook Inlet Land Exchange of 1974 - a three-way land swap involving the federal government, the State and the Cook Inlet Region Inc. (CIRI), an Alaska Native regional corporation. The State of Alaska secured land including what is now Pebble, explicitly for its mineral potential.
The surrounding terrain is characterized by tundra, gently rolling hills and the absence of permafrost. At just 1,000-feet above sea-level and 65 miles from tidewater on Cook Inlet by air, and 120 miles from Bristol Bay, the project setting presents few obstacles to successful mine and infrastructure development.
Alaska is known around the world for its rigorous environmental standards, as well as its healthy fish and wildlife populations. The state currently has five hard rock mines with exemplary performance records and five major development projects, including Pebble.
While enforcing high standards, regulatory oversight in Alaska is also intrinsically stable and predictable. Alaskans strongly support responsible resource development, and have clearly indicated their support for the state's permitting system as the appropriate venue for evaluating projects like Pebble.
Northern Dynasty is confident that Pebble can be developed in an environmentally sound and socially responsible manner, consistent with Alaska and US standards.
History
2024
- Northern Dynasty and the Pebble Partnership file two separate actions in federal courts in March - a “takings” case and an action seeking to vacate the illegal veto - challenging the federal government’s actions to prevent the companies from building a mine at Pebble.
- State of Alaska files two actions – a “takings” in March and an action seeking to vacate EPA’s illegal veto in April.
- USACE Alaska Division abandons the ROD appeal process for Pebble, citing the EPA veto as the reason.
2023
- Reviewing Officer remands the Pebble EIS ROD back to the USACE Alaska Division for review
- State of Alaska and industry groups strongly object to the EPA’s unprecedented and action to veto mining on the land where the Pebble Project is located in Southwest Alaska
- US EPA completes administrative review and announces pre-emptive veto; opportunity for judicial review through court challenge begins
- Northern Dynasty publishes an independent Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Pebble Project
- State of Alaska files a Motion for Leave to File a Bill of Complaint with the U.S. Supreme Court challenging the EPA's Final Determination
2022
- Northern Dynasty enters into an innovative royalty agreement to potentially receive funding over next 2 years in return for investor receiving the right to purchaseg a portion of gold and silver production from a future Pebble mine
- Alaska and 13 other US states send letters of opposition to US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) Revised Proposed Determination on Pebble area
- Pebble Partnership submits comments on Revised Proposed Determination on Pebble area
- US EPA announces that it will again pursue political pre-emptive veto
- Future of Copper1 shows urgent need for massive new copper supply soon for any hope of achieving 2050 Net-Zero Emissions goals
2021
- Pebble Partnership submits Request for appeal (RFA) on negative Record of Decision (ROD)
2020
- Estimate suggests Pebble also contains world’s most significant resource of rhenium
- Negative ROD issued with conclusions that appear to completely disregard the Pebble Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
- Final Pebble EIS describes a modern, environmentally sound mine that can co-exist with clean water and healthy fisheries
- US EPA expresses confidence in Pebble permitting; opts not to issue 3b letter to maintain veto right under the Clean Water Act.
2019
- US EPA Withdraws Proposed Determination
- US Army Corps of Engineers releases Draft Pebble EIS
2018
- 404 Wetlands Permit application receipted and Pebble EIS triggered
2017
- Pebble enters federal permitting process
- Pebble Partnership reaches settlement with US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and proceeds towards normal course permitting
2015-2016
- Successful advancement of multi-prong strategy to address EPA's pre-emptive 404(c) veto of the Pebble Project; Cohen Report released
2014
- The Pebble Partnership takes steps to address US EPA initiation of a pre-emptive regulatory action with potential to restrict future development of Pebble
- Updated resource estimate based on drilling through 2013 shows increase in measured and indicated resources for the project
2013
- Northern Dynasty re-acquires 100% ownership of the Pebble Project after Anglo American withdraws following US $573 million of investment
2012
- The Pebble Partnership releases its Environmental Baseline Document containing 27,000 pages of scientific data and analyses
- Pebble Project reaches one millionth foot of drilling, exemplifying the scope and scale of the comprehensive technical and scientific work programs
2011
- Northern Dynasty publishes positive Preliminary Assessment Technical Report indicating Pebble has the potential to become one of the most important metal producers of the 21st century
- Estimated mineral resource up by over 1000% since 2001
2008
- The Pebble Fund is established as a five-year, $5 million commitment to support community-led initiatives that enhance the health of Bristol Bay fisheries and contribute to a sustainable economic future in southwest Alaska
- Updated resource estimate confirms Pebble as one of the world's most important copper-gold-molybdenum deposits
2007
- Northern Dynasty and Anglo American enter into a 50:50 partnership to develop a modern, long-life mine at Pebble
- Anglo commits to $1.5 billion all or nothing to earn its 50% share in Pebble Partnership
2006
- Drilling at Pebble East continues to expand high-grade porphyry discovery
- Estimated mineral resource up by 600% since 2001
2005
- Northern Dynasty acquires 100% of the Pebble deposit
- Northern Dynasty discovers Pebble East, a significantly higher-grade zone of mineralization
2001 - 2004
- Northern Dynasty expands the known mineral resource at Pebble from 1 billion to more than 4 billion tonnes – a 400% increase; initiates planning for a large-scale, open pit mine and comprehensive engineering, environmental and socio-economic studies
2001
- Northern Dynasty secures agreements to purchase Pebble property
1988 - 1997
- Cominco (now Teck) explores the property
- Cominco discovers several zones of mineralization on the Pebble property and in 1989 discovers the Pebble deposit; drilling and initial engineering and environmental studies completed over next over several years
(1) The IHS Global report is based on a conceptual mine plan using an iteration of the engineering work undertaken by the Pebble Partnership in 2013 and is the only economic impact study available at this time. The IHS report is intended to provide information about general economic effects/contribution of a development at Pebble to Alaska and the United States. The report should not be used to evaluate the Pebble Project’s impact on Northern Dynasty.
