Hunters and anglers working together to preserve fish and game habitats and hunting and fishing opportunities on our public lands in Alaska.

Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska

February 15, 2016 Newsletter

Here’s to hoping you and yours enjoyed a wonderful holiday season. Hard to believe another year has passed, but 2016 is here and the work to protect Alaska’s incredible fish and game habitats and resources goes on. In this edition of the SAA news, you’ll find updates on the Tongass National Forest, Bristol Bay / Pebble Mine, and the Transboundary mining threat, as well as some general tidbits and videos about enjoying the wonders of the Great Land. You can always see a comprehensive collection of news items on the Latest News page.


Tongass National Forest – Comment Now on Tongass Plan Amendment

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  • Our nation’s largest national forest – Southeast Alaska’s Tongass – is currently accepting comments on a proposed amendment to the Tongass’ management plan. One very positive component of the amendment is adding higher levels of protection to the “Tongass 77” watersheds. Under the amendment, these highly productive areas would be protected from future development and would consider production of fish and wildlife as their highest priority.
   

Bristol Bay: Pebble is NOT DEAD; Backers Pin Hopes on Courts & Congress

The campaign to protect Bristol Bay goes on. While it’s not front and center like it was for many years, the battle has not been won (as some believe). Relying on sound science and with massive public support in Alaska and around the nation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed a set of common-sense restrictions in July 2014 that could protect Bristol Bay and its incomparable wild salmon fishery from dangerous large-scale mines such as the proposed Pebble Mine. Without any major financial backing, the Pebble Limited Partnership has resorted to tactics aimed at delaying EPA’s finalization of the proposed restrictions – filing lawsuits against EPA and lobbying Congress to change the rules of the game in the late innings. EPA is currently prohibited from completing its Bristol Bay work under the Clean Water Act until one of Pebble’s various lawsuits is sorted out. In the meantime, Pebble is spending money on high-priced lobbyists to attempt to influence Congress and pass legislation which would change the Clean Water Act itself, taking away EPA’s ability to use the Act in Bristol Bay at this point.

Recently, Pebble’s backers made some extremely bold and aggressive statements at a mining investment convention in Vancouver. They clearly are not ready to give up, and we need to fight as hard as ever for Bristol Bay.

And, the EPA has recently stated that due to the litigation delay, any agency action to block mining in Bristol Bay will likely have to wait until the next presidential administration.

Tell your Senators: EPA must be allowed to finish its work in Bristol Bay!


Transboundary Mining Threat

The threat of impacts to clean water and fisheries from the rapid development and expansion of large mines on the British Columbia side of the USA-Canada border in southeast Alaska was featured in a recent opinion editorial in the New York Times.


Miscellaneous Items From Around Alaska


Other Ways to Support SAA and the Fight for Fishing and Hunting in Alaska

SAA is grateful for the generous support of individuals, businesses, and foundations. Your donations allow SAA to continue to work on efforts to protect prime fishing and hunting habitats in the Last Frontier for the benefit of current and future sportsmen and women. Make your donations online at the secure online donation page; all amounts are accepted and appreciated – SAA is a lean, mean, one-man operation but it takes funding to do this work. For donations of the following amounts, please include “SAA” and indicate what item you’d like to receive in the “comment” box on the donation page.

Trucker Hat
Sockeye T
Aquafly Box
$15 – Trucker Hat
$15 – Sockeye T-shirt
$15 – Aquafly Box

 

DeYoung 4 in 1
$125 - “4-in-1 Alaska” by Derek DeYoung

DeYoung Fab Four
$125 - “Fab Four – Alaskan September” by Derek DeYoung

(If you have any questions on how to donate, e-mail Scott@SportsmansAlliance4AK.org.)


Do You Shop Online? Doesn’t Nearly Everyone These Days?
Two Ways to Help Alaska Conservation – Easy and Free!!!

SAA’s parent organization – the Alaska Conservation Foundation – is now an official recipient organization of Amazon Donations.

It’s super easy to make a donation and doesn’t cost you a thing!

Amazon will automatically donate 0.5% of your total purchases to ACF.

AmazonSmile

Sign up for a free iGive.com account!
Your favorite cause (SAA!) will earn $5. It’s free and easy.

iGIVE

There is no obligation to make any purchases, but you can shop at over 900 online merchants and a percentage of the sale will be donated to SAA.


Thanks for caring about Alaska conservation. Your support and actions will ensure a future for Alaska’s fish and game and for coming generations of sportsmen and women to enjoy them.

Sincerely,

Scott Hed
Director – Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska

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Saltwater kings!

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