Inletkeeper has been fighting alongside Alaskans to stop the Pebble Mine for over 20 years—and what a ride it has been. In 2023, we celebrated a milestone victory when the EPA finalized Clean Water Act protections that stopped the proposed Pebble Mine from being built in the headwaters of Bristol Bay. Just last week there were reports that the EPA was “actively considering” reversing its own decision and cutting a deal with Pebble’s developers, who filed a lawsuit in 2024 to overturn the veto.
This week however we celebrate as the Department of Justice confirmed that the EPA will continue to defend Bristol Bay and are cautiously optimistic that the ongoing litigation will continue to support the EPA’s robust 404(c) Final Determination.
While we wait for the federal courts to decide, we can take direct action in Alaska to ensure Bristol Bay’s fishery and habitats remain intact for future generations. In May, Speaker Bryce Edgmon and Rep. Andy Josephson introduced the Bristol Bay Forever Act, a bill that would ban metallic sulfide mines—like Pebble—inside our 36,000-square-mile Bristol Bay Fisheries Reserve. This bill will be up for consideration when the legislature reconvenes in January 2026 and support now will help make it a priority for the new session.
Whether you’ve signed a petition, joined a protest, called a legislator over the past twenty years—or you’re brand new to the cause it’s time to take action once more. Our friends at United Tribes for Bristol Bay have made it easy to sign the letter and do your part to protect our salmon, and to safeguard our rights as Alaskans.