We're open-minded about benefits Pebble Mine could bring

We remain neutral about the project while intrigued by the opportunity - if done right - that it could present.

What we do support is allowing the process to work. And by process we mean both the internal scrutiny a project like this will go through and the public process it will go through via the government.

The company process works through multiple phases from exploration through to design and permitting and potentially on to construction and operation. The partnership has done extensive exploration of the mineral resource at the deposit and this work is pretty well known. It has also undertaken one of the most extensive environmental studies programs in the history of development projects in Alaska with some of this work being conducted by our companies. All of this data feeds into multiple internal review processes to determine technical, environmental, and financial viability of the project.

From there, should the project advance the permitting processes of the state and federal government will begin including a full environmental impact statement. Ask anyone involved in environmental permitting in Alaska what is required of this. Any major project must meet the requirements established under the environmental laws of the United States and the State of Alaska. There will be multiple reviews and several opportunities for public involvement throughout this process. This includes the critical consultation role we will have under federal environmental law.

So what is our interest in writing about Pebble and adding our voice to the public discussion? Much of Pebble's current and future work must cross our lands. Our shareholders rely upon the resources of our lands and they are very interested in what happens.

It is our responsibility to be engaged.

We believe it is critical to maintain appropriate and open lines of communication with the Pebble Partnership. We want a seat at the table to learn as much as we can about what they are studying, what kind of economic opportunities and jobs are available, what kind of processes they will work through, and to ask as many questions as we can about their business. We want to establish relationships with the decision makers as the company works its way through the process. We want to understand how they will manage the environmental impacts and what they will do to ensure local hire is a priority.

Today, many of our shareholders work directly for the partnership or through our business ventures with the partnership. We help them with drilling, helicopter services, housekeeping, environmental monitoring, field support, bear guards, cut and log the drill core, and monitoring activities on our lands. We have multiple business agreements with the partnership and we're constantly looking for new ones. This activity has meant good jobs for our shareholders and in a region that is hurting economically it's important to recognize what this means.

This is an important point. Things cost more in rural Alaska and economic opportunity is not exactly growing on trees. The cost of energy, food, and transportation for our shareholders is significantly higher than it is in Anchorage. Pebble represents an opportunity to potentially change that.

All of our organizations have either sponsored resolutions supporting these important points or have adopted positions which advocate a wait and see approach to the mines development pending the outcome of the permitting process. Alaska is after all a community built on relationships. The partnership has spent the last year filling its staff with longtime Alaskans. This has been a good step because we know many of them and they know us, our concerns and the concerns of our shareholders.

We want to spend our time and energy constructively working with Pebble today and keeping an open mind about the opportunities and risks. We believe we join with most Alaskans on this point.

John Allen Adcox is President of Pedro Bay Corporation. This was written in conjunction with Tyonek Native Corporation, Seldovia Native Association, Alaska Peninsula Corporation (Port Heiden, Ugashik, South Naknek, Newhalen, Kokhanok), Kijik Corporation and Chickaloon Native Corporation.