JUNEAU – On Thursday, Representative Andy Josephson (D-Anchorage) and Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) revealed statements from Northern Dynasty CEO, Ron Thiessen contradicting Governor Parnell’s stated position on that he would reserve judgment until completion of the permitting process for the Pebble Mine.

In previous comments Governor Parnell has stated, “Politicians shouldn’t be picking which projects get developed and which don’t — that leads to a corrupt “buddy-buddy” system where friends are rewarded rather than science and the public dictating outcomes.”

However, earlier this winter at a presentation to the Resource Development Council and members of the Legislature, Ron Thiessen (Northern Dynasty CEO) said the state has said that it will “help us attract the next investor for the development of the Pebble project.”

“The governor has said the state is not putting a thumb on the scale with Pebble, but that seems suspect when hearing this from the project’s major backer. Let’s focus on attracting responsible resource development to the state, not a mine that jeopardizes the greatest wild salmon fishery in the world,” said Josephson.

“The argument by the state that it is neutral on this mine always seemed highly questionable. If the state’s promised to spend public funds to promote Pebble, Alaskans need to know about it,” said Gara. “Pebble is located at the headwaters of the world’s greatest fishing streams. It is a threat to them.”

You can see video footage of the Thiessen speech at 17:38 of the video posted here.