The first hearings on large scale development of Bristol Bay's watershed after the EPA's release of their environmental assessment released earlier this month is scheduled to be held in Seattle tomorrow.

At the request of Washington’s Senator Maria Cantwell, the EPA has scheduled Seattle as the venue for the first of its hearings on the watershed assessment. Cantwell requested the hearing when she spoke to EPA Administer Lisa Jackson earlier in May. Cantwell was the first U.S. Senator to call on the EPA to use its Clean Water Act authority to block any large development in the Salmon Rich Bristol Bay if science determined that the project would “have unacceptable adverse impactson water quality and the fish stocks that depend on it.”

In a release, Senator Cantwell pointed out that thousands of Washington state jobs are dependent on Bristol Bay’s healthy, sustainable wild salmon populations. Nearly 1,000 Washington residents hold commercial fishing permits in the region. According to her website, in 2008, Bristol Bay yielded over $113 million dollars in total value for Washington state commercial fishers. Recreational salmon fishers yielded an additional $75 million for Washington state businesses alone. The region generates $500 million each year and provides jobs for 14,000 people.

“I’m glad that Washington state voices will be heard as EPA works to finalize its scientific watershed assessment,” Cantwell said. “This public hearing is a critical step in ensuring Washingtonians’ livelihoods are protected.With thousands of Washington state jobs dependent on healthy, sustainable Bristol Bay salmon, I will continue fighting to ensure a final decision is based on sound science.”

A Canadian mining company, Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. has proposed a copper and gold mine near the Bristol Bay fisheries. That company has said that it has earmarked $107 million to prepare the mine for the permitting process that is set to commence this fall. The permitting process can take several years. The Bristol Bay project is a joint venture between Northern Dynasty and Anglo American of the United Kingdom. $400 million has already been spent advancing the project.

Pebble is the site of the hugest deposit of its kind, it has the potential to produce over 80 million pounds of copper and more than 107 million ounces of gold as well as over 5 and a half billion pounds of molybdenum. The project will employ over 1,000 people.

The hearing in Washington will be held at the Federal Building in Seattle at 2 pm, Thrusday, May 31st.

Hearings on the EPA’s assessment will be held in Alaska June 4th-7th.

* Anchorage: Monday, June 4
5:30pm, University of Alaska, Wendy Williamson Auditorium

* Dillingham: Tuesday, June 5
11:30am, Middle School Gymnasium

* Naknek: Tuesday, June 5
5pm, Naknek School Auditorium

* Levelock: Wednesday, June 6
4pm, Rainbow Hall

* Igiugig: Wednesday, June 6
5pm, Igiugig Airport Hangar

* Nondalton: Thursday, June 7
5pm, Nondalton Community Center

* New Stuyahok: Thursday, June 7
7pm, Cetuyarag Community Center