Mining operations would consume massive amounts of water from the headwaters of two of the seven main river systems in the Bristol Bay region and the scattered deposits and low-grade ore would generate billions of tons of waste rock and tailings, which when mixed with water and oxygen create the conditions for acid-rock drainage. The Pebble Partnership estimates it would operate the mine for 50-80 years. During that time, the mine would utilize a tailings pond to handle waste rock, constantly releasing treated tailings water downstream under a permit authorized by the Environmental Protection Agency. And under typical mine closure plans, mines that use tailings ponds are designed to leave a permanent impact on the land – tailings ponds by their very nature can never be fully remediated.
http://www.themudflats.net/2012/02/24/where-water-is-gold-bristol-bay-and-the-pebble-mine-part-1-of-4/
http://www.themudflats.net/2012/02/26/where-water-is-gold-part-2-of-4/
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