Proposed Open Pit Mine In Bristol Bay, Alaska

EDM number 1606 in 2010-12, proposed by Martin Horwood on 15/03/2011.
Categorised under the topic of Coal.

That this House notes with concern plans by UK-based mining company Anglo American to develop an open pit mine in Bristol Bay, Alaska; further notes that residents of Bristol Bay, many of whom are indigenous, have not given their free, prior and informed consent to the proposed mine and that Anglo American has not obtained broad community support for the proposed mine and indeed that 80 per cent. of Bristol Bay residents oppose it; further notes that the Bristol Bay Native Corporation has adopted a resolution opposing the mine; further notes that the US Environmental Protection Agency has announced a review into large developments in Bristol Bay; recognises that the residents' livelihoods depend heavily on the supply of sockeye salmon which will be at great risk from the mine; further recognises that Bristol Bay is globally significant in the supply of sustainably fished salmon, with the UK the largest consumer of tinned red salmon which comes predominantly from Bristol Bay; believes that investors should be aware of the risks of this project; welcomes the concern of UK jewellers, and a pledge by 50 jewellery companies, not to buy gold from the proposed mine, including retailers with UK stores Beaverbrooks, Goldsmiths and Ingle Rhode; further welcomes the concern of UK anglers regarding the mine proposals; calls on Anglo American to respect the rights of the Bristol Bay residents and forgo development of its project; and further calls on the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to meet Anglo American to discuss these concerns.

This motion has been signed by a total of 18 MPs.