The Keystone Center Dialogue on the Potential Development of the Pebble Mine

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Panel on Responsible Large-Scale Mining at the University of Alaska Anchorage (December 3, 2010):  Click here for video of the Responsible Mining panel, speaker slide presentations, and more.

Background

In November 2007, The Keystone Center was approached by the UK- and US-based consulting firm Sustainable Finance on behalf of the Pebble Partnership to determine whether Keystone was interested in and capable of undertaking an independent stakeholder assessment and dialogue feasibility study focused on the potential development of the Pebble Mine in southwest Alaska. (Read The Keystone Center's Statement of Independence).
 
Between February and May, 2008, a Keystone Center team conducted interviews and conversations with approximately 90 individuals in Anchorage, the Bristol Bay watershed, and the Kenai Peninsula. Through this process, Keystone identified key areas of environmental, social, and economic concern associated with a large-scale mine in the Bristol Bay watershed. Keystone also identified a continuum of responses to both the potential of a mine in the watershed and to the prospect of a dialogue. Keystone summarized its findings as well as its initial recommendations for a multi-stage dialogue process in its draft report: Stakeholder Assessment and Dialogue Feasibility Study for the Proposed Pebble Project (Draft Report, September 2008). 
 
Following the release of the draft assessment report, the Keystone Center conducted a series of meetings in southwest Alaska during the fall of 2008 and spring of 2009 to seek further public input on the report and recommended process. As a result of these meetings, The Keystone Center modified its recommendations in order to accommodate suggestions made by individuals who were not part of the initial interviews. Revisions to the original recommendations are reflected in the process outlined below.

Dialogue Process

The purpose of the dialogue process is to help stakeholders make better informed decisions about the critical choices before them. To that end, The Keystone Center is planning a non-linear 4-stage dialogue process that will likely evolve as it progresses but includes the following framework : 

1. Independent Science Advisory Committee (SAC) to help guide the project.

2. Independent Science Panel (ISPs) to help stakeholders a) explore the criteria and standards of responsibility by which mining plans and mining operations are being evaluated worldwide, b) assess the credibility and sufficiency of baseline environmental and socioeconomic studies and c) evaluate the risks, benefits and tradeoffs associated with a preliminary mining plan. Panel topics include:

• Responsible Large-Scale Mining: Global Perspectives
• Geology and Geochemistry; Hydrology and Water Quality
• Fish, Wildlife, and Habitat; Social, Economic, and Cultural Dynamics
• Evaluating Choices: Comparing a preliminary mine plan with a no-mine option

3. Joint Fact-Finding (JFF) process to address baseline scientific questions identified in the Independent Science Panels.

4. Project Planning Advisory to engage stakeholder representatives in providing input into the development of a mining proposal and sustainable development options that stakeholders can evaluate.

Science Advisory Committee

A Science Advisory Committee (SAC) has been convened to guide the ISP and JFF processes. The principal role of the SAC is to help Keystone select independent science panelists and to plan and oversee the panel process. The SAC is comprised of five recognized experts from the disciplines of geochemistry, fisheries, socioeconomics, subsistence, and responsible mining.  View Science Advisory Committee Member Biographies.

Selection of SAC members and independent science panelists follows National Research Council policies and procedures to assure that science panels are adequately balanced and fair and that potential conflicts of interest are avoided.

Contact Information
 
For additional information on this process, please contact Todd Bryan, Ph.D., senior associate at The Keystone Center.
 
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