Post-Intelligencer – Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell said Monday she would oppose a proposed huge copper and gold mine near Alaska’s Bristol Bay if studies find it would harm salmon and thus put jobs in her own state at risk.
In a letter sent to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, Cantwell described Bristol Bay’s salmon population as an economic lynchpin for commercial fishermen both in Alaska and Washington.
Nearly 1,000 Washington residents hold Bristol Bay commercial fishing licenses, she said.
“Thousands of my constituents have contacted me expressing their concerns regarding the potentially catastrophic and widespread long-term impacts of the proposed Pebble Mine, which would be the world’s largest man-made excavation,” Cantwell said in her letter.
Cantwell called on the Environmental Protection Agency to consider using the Clean Water Act to prohibit or restrict large-scale development around the bay if it would harm the world-class salmon-producing rivers in the region.
As one of the most beautiful states in the union–and one of the richest in natural resources–Washington has a special interest in energy and environmental policy. And Maria has fought hard to uphold the state’s conservation tradition, while also working to bring our energy policy into the 21st century.
Maria knows Washington’s business community – because, as an executive at an innovative software company, she was part of it. And as a Senator, she’s led the way in helping businesses large and small throughout Washington grow, thrive, and create jobs.
Maria has taken a leadership role on safety and security issues, including defending our borders, strengthening our military, cracking down on gangs, and taking on drug crime in Washington communities
Middle-class families around Washington and across the country are facing tough times–and tough decisions about balancing the family checkbook each month. Maria has fought to strengthen the economic security of Washington families and cut taxes for middle-class families.
