The group seeking to develop a large gold-and-copper prospect in the Bristol Bay region is on track to release a mine plan later this year or early next year.

Mike Heatwole, a spokesman for Pebble Limited Partnership, also says that's the timeline for advancing to the permitting phase.

That's consistent with statements from a Pebble official in February, who said the target for moving toward permitting is the current fiscal year. The fiscal year began July 1 and ends June 30, 2013.

Heatwole says Pebble will share its eventual mine plan with stakeholders before initiating the permitting process.

He says the company rejects the idea that one has to choose between a mine and the salmon fishery and is working toward a plan that allows for the two to co-exist.