Bristol Bay gets $5 million from Pebble Partnership

KYLE VON BOSE

February 22, 2008 at 4:45PM AKST

Bristol Bay will get a $5 million boost for economic development that includes financial support for fisheries infrastructure.

Designed to support both fisheries and communities, the newly created Pebble Fund for Sustainable Bristol Bay Fisheries and Communities, developed around a five-year funding release plan, was announced Feb. 22 by The Pebble Partnership.

Funds will be distributed in $1 million increments each year during the five-year period, according to Sean Mcgee, spokesman for The Pebble Partnership.

Purpose of the fund is to support existing fisheries infrastructure and contribute to the sustainable economic future of Bristol Bay, he said.

Pebble Partnership spokesman Sean Mcgee said the creation of the fund is an effort to fulfill a commitment made by Anglo American CEO Cynthia Carroll, during her October 2007 visit to Alaska. Carroll told Alaskans that Anglo American wanted to establish partnerships that not only protect, but enhance the fisheries of Bristol Bay.

Lake and Peninsula Borough Mayor Glen Alsworth Sr. said the fund is a step in the right direction and is a "great opportunity for anti-Pebble and environmental groups to put their money where their mouth is."

The proposed Pebble mine site is in Alsworth’s Borough.

"I just see this as a positive move for our region and I hope others will follow suit," Alsworth said.

Instead of spending money on anti-mining messages and environmental advocacy, Alsworth said he would like to see groups like the Renewable Resources Coalition and the Bristol Bay Alliance put money toward projects on the ground that actually make a difference to enhance the region’s opportunities

"There’s no reason that all of us can’t join in advocating for salmon," Alsworth said. "We may disagree on a lot of things, but I believe this is a wonderful opportunity that folks like the RRC and the mining company can both agree on."

Renewable Resources Coalition’s chief operating officer Danny Consenstein said he thinks the fund is an effort to make up for an absence of local support. He said the fishermen of Bristol Bay have spoken out against the mine because of the risk it poses to their lifestyle.

"It really doesn’t change the bottom line, which is their fears of the risk involved," Consenstein said.

As for putting their money where their mouth is, Consenstein said that the RRC does work to promote and market Bristol Bay salmon as coming from clean water, something he said the Pebble mine threatens.

"How is a grant going to address these concerns," Consenstein asked. "I just don’t think it’s going to work."

Mcgee said it will be up to Bristol Bay to decide how the grant can help them. Financial management of the fund will be handled by the Alaska Community Foundation, an independent, nonprofit, charitable organization based in Anchorage.

Mcgee said the ACF can provide low-cost financial management and that by having AFC invest the money, the interest will more than pay for the services; meaning the entire $5 million will end up in the communities.

However, responsibility for establishing its mission, reviewing applications and recommending grants will lie with an independently established advisory board.

"We are especially excited about the Pebble Fund, since the local citizens will help decide where the funds will be spent, to have the greatest impact in the Bristol Bay area," said Carol Simonetti, chief executive officer of the ACF.

The advisory board will be established from a body of leaders throughout Bristol Bay communities, regional institutions, Alaska Native organizations and local fisheries interests. A small list of guidelines will steer the fund’s distribution, otherwise it will operate independently from The Pebble Partnership.

"We don’t intend the fund to establish its own programs," Mcgee said. "It’s there to help finance existing programs or new programs that are being developed within the communities."

Mcgee said the focus of the money should be on the enhancement of the social and economic contributions of the fisheries. However after hearing more from local leaders, they are open to the fund used to promote anything that will contribute to sustainable communities, such as energy infrastructure, housing or promoting the development of local sustainable business.

Mcgee said the only thing the money won’t be used for is political advocacy.

The Pebble Partnership has commissioned an independent facilitator, Margaret King, to organize a planning workshop for the Pebble Fund.

The workshop, scheduled for March, is designed to establish a process and criteria for selecting the advisory board, formalize the fund’s mission and establish a protocol for receiving, reviewing and recommending grants.

Mcgee said the initial $5 million donation is not contingent on whether or not the Pebble mine is ultimately permitted. Instead, if the Pebble Partnership is permitted to move forward with producing the mine, it will continue to allocate more money to the fund over the life of the mining project.

"We know this project won’t be successful in the future if we can’t show that it will fully protect the fisheries and water, the wildlife and other natural resources," Mcgee said.

"The other thing that is absolutely critical is that it has meaningful benefits for the communities in the region. Not just through jobs, but that we use the resources available to us to help communities achieve their goals and aspirations," he said.

Kyle von Bose can be reached at (907) 348-2438 or toll free at (800) 770-9830, ext. 438.