World News Korner

Rats continue jumping from the sinking ship that is the Pebble Mine.

Courtesy of ADN:

Global mining giant Rio Tinto is pulling out of the Pebble mine project in Alaska, the latest blow to the controversial plan to build an open pit mine in the best wild salmon stronghold in the world.

Rio Tinto said Monday that it will donate its share in the project to a pair of Alaskan non-profits, the Alaska Community Foundation and the Bristol Bay Native Corp. Education Foundation.

Rio Tinto's decision comes after the Environmental Protection Agency moved closer in recent weeks to blocking the mine. EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said Pebble would "likely have significant and irreversible negative impacts on the salmon of Bristol Bay." She said her agency would decide on action to protect the salmon under the Clean Water Act, which could lead to a veto of the project.

The British mining powerhouse Anglo American pulled out of the Pebble project last year. Now Rio Tinto is abandoning the effort as well, saying Monday "the Pebble Project does not fit with Rio Tinto's strategy."

What? Gouging giant trenches in the pristine Alaska wilderness and possible poisoning an important fishing area does not fit with Rio Tinto's strategy?

Actually I think, that in most cases, it does.

Freeport Mine, a Rio Tinto joint venture.

What I don't think is in their strategy is to have the EPA block their efforts, and for thousands of residents to be actively attempting to protect the surrounding environment.

Ever since Sarah Palin helped to derail the initiative that would have stopped the Pebble Mine in its tracks, Alaskans have been fighting to keep it from going forward.

Today it looks like that has finally come to pass.

Just another left over Palin mess that Alaskans have been working to clean up a whole five years after she quit her job as Governor.

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