The Alaska Supreme Court today issued a decision allowing the so-called "Clean Water" initiative to go on the statewide ballot in August.

Ballot Measure 4 would prohibit new large metallic mines from discharging harmful amounts of certain pollutants into drinking water supplies or salmon streams.

The initiative's main target is the proposed Pebble copper and gold mine in Southwest Alaska, controversial due to its location near the headwaters of several rivers that feed Bristol Bay's large salmon fisheries.

Mining companies around the state claim the initiative could harm other mines, preventing new ones from opening and existing ones from expanding.

So far, state regulators and attorneys have interpreted the initiative differently -- they say the initiative doesn't differ significantly from the state's current pollution rules.

In its ruling today, the court rejected claims by the Pebble Partnership, a coalition of mining companies called the Council of Alaska Producers and the Alaska Federation of Natives that the initiative is unconstitutional.

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