ALASKA'S NEWSPAPER

| Updated: 12:08 AM

Alaska high court dismisses Pebble initiative

'CLEAN WATER': Less-stringent measure still awaits judges' ruling.

The Alaska Supreme Court signed an order Monday that dismisses the more controversial of two embattled "clean water" ballot initiatives aimed at blocking development of the Pebble copper and gold prospect in Southwest Alaska.

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The court agreed to dismiss a pending case disputing Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell's finding last year that the "Clean Water 1" initiative was unconstitutional.

"Clean Water 1" was one of two initiatives filed by Pebble opponents to limit water pollution discharges from large mines. Voters petitioned successfully to place both of the initiatives on the ballot. The mining industry and some Native organizations sued to block both of them.

The sponsors of "Clean Water 1" recently asked Parnell to pull their proposed law, explaining that it was too divisive and they wanted to put all their energy into the less-stringent initiative, called Ballot Measure 4.

Parnell had not acted on that request. He will comply with the new Supreme Court order, according to Jason Hooley, a legislative assistant in Parnell's office. That will keep the initiative off the ballot.

Now, Ballot Measure 4 is the only one in legal limbo.

The Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments on that proposal next Monday.

Pending its ruling, Ballot Measure 4 is scheduled to appear on the statewide election ballot in August.


Find Elizabeth Bluemink online at adn.com/contact/ebluemink or call 257-4317.

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