Download or read book An Assessment of Potential Mining Impacts on Salmon Ecosystems of Bristol Bay Alaska Volume 1 Main Report written by U S Environmental Protection Agency and published by CreateSpace. This book was released on 2014-08-02 with total page 628 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report evaluates the potential impacts of large-scale mining development on salmon and other fish populations, wildlife, and Alaska Native cultures in the Nushagak River and Kvichak River watersheds of Bristol Bay, Alaska. It is not an assessment of a specific mine proposal for development, nor does it outline decisions made or to be made by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The assessment was conducted as an ecological risk assessment and starts with a review and characterization of the fisheries, wildlife, and Alaska Native cultures of the Bristol Bay watershed, particularly the Nushagak and Kvichak River watersheds. We developed realistic mine scenarios that include an open pit mine producing 0.25, 2.0, and 6.5 billion tons of ore and a 138-km transportation corridor. Based on these mine scenarios, we conclude that mining would, at minimum, cause the loss of spawning and rearing habitat for multiple salmonids (Pacific salmon, rainbow trout, and Dolly Varden). The mine footprint in each of the three scenarios would likely result in the direct loss of 38, 90, and 145 km of streams and 5.0, 12.4 and 19.4 km2 of wetlands, respectively. Water withdrawals for mine operations would significantly diminish habitat quality in an additional 15, 26 and 54 km of streams. Leakage of tailings and waste rock leachates during routine operations would result in instream copper levels sufficient to cause direct effects on salmonids in 29 and 57 km of streams beyond the mine footprint in the 2.0- and 6.5-billion-ton scenarios unless additional mitigation measures were taken. These leakages would not be likely to cause direct effects in streams under the 0.25-billion-ton scenario. Under a reasonable upper bound failure scenario for the wastewater treatment plant, copper concentrations would be sufficient to cause direct effects on salmonid fish in 45, 100, and 100 km of streams, respectively, under each mine scenario. The transportation corridor would cross 53 streams and rivers known or likely to support migrating and/or resident salmonids. At those road crossings, culvert failures could inhibit fish migration and degrade habitat, truck accidents could spill industrial chemicals, and runoff could reduce water quality. Failure of a tailings dam has a very low probability of occurrence, but a spill of 20% of the tailings from a single tailings storage facility would destroy more than 30 stream km, and more streams and rivers would have greatly degraded habitat for decades. A spill of product concentrate slurry along the transportation corridor would result in toxicity to fish in streams between the road and Iliamna Lake. Reductions in the populations of salmon would be expected from these habitat losses and toxic effects, but cannot be quantified. These losses would adversely affect the Alaska Native cultures and the wildlife of the region. The Nushagak River and Kvichak River watersheds contain multiple sites under consideration for large-scale mining. Potential risks of mining development on salmon and other fish populations are likely to increase as a result of the cumulative impacts of multiple mines.

Download or read book An Assessment of Potential Mining Impacts on Salmon Ecosystems of Bristol Bay Alaska written by U S Environmental Protection Agency and published by CreateSpace. This book was released on 2014-08-02 with total page 430 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The objective of this report is to characterize the baseline levels of economic activity and related ecosystem services values for the Bristol Bay wild salmon ecosystem. The overarching purpose of this report is to provide baseline economic information to the Environmental Protection Agency in order to inform review of mining proposals in the Nushugak and Kvichak drainages. Both regional economic significance and social net economic accounting frameworks are described in this report. This study reviews and summarizes existing economic research on the key sectors in this area and reports findings based on original survey data on expenditures and net benefits. This report combines efforts on the part of Bioeconomics, Inc. and the University of Alaska Institute of Social and Economic Research. John Duffield and Chris Neher compiled the report and authored the executive summary, Sections 1, 2, and 5. Gunnar Knapp wrote Section 3 (commercial fisheries), and Tobias Schworer, Ginny Fey and Scott Goldsmith wrote Section 4. The major components of the total value of the Bristol Bay area watersheds include subsistence use, commercial fishing, sport fishing and other recreation, and the preservation values (or indirect values) held by users and the U.S. resident population. The overall objectives of this study is to estimate the share of the total regional economy (expenditures, income, and jobs) that is dependent on these essentially pristine wild salmon ecosystems and to provide a preliminary but relatively comprehensive estimate of the total economic value (from an applied welfare economics perspective) that relies on a healthy ecosystem.

Download or read book An Assessment of Potential Mining Impacts on Salmon Ecosystems of Bristol Bay Alaska written by U.s. Environment Protection Agency and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2014-08 with total page 32 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Bristol Bay watershed in southwestern Alaska supports the largest sockeye salmon fishery in the world, is home to 25 Federally Recognized Tribal Governments, and contains large mineral resources. The potential for large-scale mining activities in the watershed has raised concerns about the impact of mining on the sustainability of Bristol Bay's world-class fisheries, and the future of Alaska Native tribes in the watershed who have maintained a salmon-based culture and subsistence-based lifestyle for at least 4,000 years. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) launched this assessment to determine the significance of Bristol Bay's ecological resources and evaluate the potential impacts of large-scale mining on these resources. The USEPA will use the results of this assessment to inform the consideration of options consistent with its role under the Clean Water Act. The assessment is intended to provide a scientific and technical foundation for future decision making; the USEPA will not address use of its regulatory authority until the assessment becomes final and has made no judgment about whether and how to use that authority at this time.

Download or read book An Assessment of Potential Mining Impacts on Salmon Ecosystems of Bristol Bay Alaska Second External Review Draft written by and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book An Assessment of Potential Mining Impacts on Salmon Ecosystems of Bristol Bay Alaska written by U S Environmental Protection Agency and published by CreateSpace. This book was released on 2014-08-02 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Millions of Pacific salmon return from feeding in the open ocean each year and swarm through Bristol Bay en route to their natal spawning streams. Nine major river systems comprise the spawning grounds for Bristol Bay salmon (Figure 1), and schools navigate toward the mouths of their respective rivers as they pass through the Bay. Each summer, thousands of commercial fishermen use drift and set gill nets to capture millions of returning fish, making Bristol Bay the largest sockeye salmon fishery in the world. Salmon that escape the fishery distribute throughout the Bay's watersheds and spawn in hundreds of discreet populations. Sport anglers target those salmon, especially sockeye, Chinook and coho, as they migrate through the river systems toward their spawning grounds. Also prized are abundant populations of rainbow trout and other sport fish, including Dolly Varden and Arctic grayling, which attain trophy size by gorging on energy-rich salmon eggs, flesh from salmon carcasses, and invertebrates dislodged by spawning salmon. The abundance of large game fish, along with the wilderness setting, makes the Bristol Bay region a world-class destination for sport anglers. Alongside recreationists, aboriginal people, guided by an age-old culture, harvest their share of migrating salmon and other fish species, which provide a primary source of sustenance. In this report we reviewed the biology, ecology, and management of the fishes of the Bristol Bay watersheds, emphasizing those species of the greatest cultural and economic importance - sockeye salmon, Chinook salmon, and rainbow trout. Rather than to imply that other fishes are not important, this focus reflected the disproportionate amount of research on these species (especially sockeye salmon) and was necessary to keep the amount of material manageable. In contrast, there is relatively little information available for the region's freshwater species, despite the importance of some in subsistence and sport fisheries. Our objectives were to describe the commercial and sport fishery resources of the region and to discuss the importance of Bristol Bay salmon populations in the context of the greater North Pacific Ocean. The literature reviewed consisted primarily of agency reports and peer-reviewed scientific papers, although unpublished data and personal communications were used where no pertinent published literature existed and popular sources were consulted to characterize the more subjective attributes of the sport fisheries. Our geographic focus was the Kvichak River watershed (including the Alagnak River) and the Nushagak River watershed (including the Wood River). Since the Kvichak and Nushagak sockeye salmon populations are components of the Bristol Bay-wide stock complex, however, we typically discuss their abundance trends at both the Bristol Bay scale and at the scale of the individual river systems. The economics of Bristol Bay's fisheries and the role of fish in the region's aboriginal cultures are each covered in separate sections of the Bristol Bay Watershed Analysis.

Download or read book An Assessment of Potential Mining Impacts on Salmon Ecosystems of Bristol Bay Alaska written by United States. Environmental Protection Agency. Region X and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book An Assessment of Potential Mining Impacts on Salmon Ecosystems of Bristol Bay Alaska written by and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The purpose of the assessment is to provide a characterization of the biological and mineral resources of the Bristol Bay watershed, increase understanding of the potential impacts of large-scale mining on the region's fish resources, and inform future governmental decisions related to protecting and maintaining the physical, chemical and biological integrity of the watershed. The primary focus is the quality, quantity, and genetic diversity of salmonid fishes. As a scientific assessment, it does not discuss or recommend policy, legal or regulatory decisions, nor does it outline or analyze options for future decisions.

Download or read book EPA s Bristol Bay Watershed Assessment written by United States. Congress. House. Committee on Science, Space, and Technology (2011). Subcommittee on Oversight and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 426 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Education for Sustainable Human and Environmental Systems written by Will Focht and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2018-10-03 with total page 441 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The goal of Sustainable Human and Environmental Systems (SHES) education is to prepare students to facilitate social learning in communities that builds knowledge of, capacity for, and commitment to sustainability to facilitate the emergence of sustainable societies. The SHES approach to sustainability education relies on complexity-based systems thinking that transcends disciplinary boundaries. This book provides a comprehensive guide to the SHES approach, including its rationale and theoretical foundation, its pedagogy and practical applications in curricula, and ways to support the approach through institutional administration. This book will be of great interest to academics and students of education, environmental sciences and studies, sustainability and sustainable development, natural resource management, conservation, environmental policy, environmental planning, and related fields in higher education. Educators can use this book as a guide to SHES pedagogy, curriculum design, sustainability, environmental studies, sustainable development, and sustainable well-being. Administrators will find the book useful in establishing, evaluating, staffing, and promoting programs based on the SHES approach.

Download or read book Coastal and Deep Ocean Pollution written by Andres Hugo Arias and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2020-03-10 with total page 326 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: During the recent decades, social, political and academic endeavours have been made to improve environmental quality and reduce pollution. In particular, the ocean, sea and coastal areas show varying degrees of impact from the multiple human activities carried out in the terrestrial as well as in the aquatic environment. Ecology is a science which studies the relationship between organisms and the surrounding environment and in the modern era, the marine world is getting increasing attention. For centuries it has been the final reservoir of human garbage; later it became an oil farm with a concomitant increase of coastal population growth and unplanned growth of the fishing industry and the increasing use of sea routes for cargo transport and recreational uses (cruises). All this led to rising contamination with negative effects on biota and even human health. It is then imperative to know the current situation of the world's oceans: that is the main purpose of this book, to document at a glance the latest research in the field of ocean pollution.

Download or read book Comparison of Ecological Impacts of Postulated Oil Spills at Selected Alaskan Locations Final Report written by United States. Coast Guard and published by . This book was released on 1975 with total page 874 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Bristol Bay Alaska written by Carol Ann Woody and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Bristol Bay, Alaska, supports a wide diversity of globally significant natural resources--from the world's most valuable wild salmon fishery to one of the world's largest untapped copper deposits. With contributions from leading scientific experts, this comprehensive, one-of-a-kind book is essential to understanding what is known regarding the extraordinary array of natural resources found within the Bristol Bay ecosystem. This reference will aid policy makers, resource managers, scientists, stakeholders, students, and the public in the discussion, debate, and decision making surrounding the future of this world treasure. Key Features --First-ever comprehensive book on the natural resources of Bristol Bay and its watershed --Wonderfully organized book that takes the reader on a wide-ranging journey through this remarkable region of the world with 26 chapters written by expert scientists in their respective fields --Contains appendices on marine invertebrates as well as freshwater macroinvertebrates and diatom communities --Provides cutting-edge information on salmon diversity and genetics and seldom seen information on the fresh water seal populations --Features over 200 full color illustrations and photos and more than 50 research tables, with many chapters including summaries and future recommended research by the scientist authors --WAV features material on the North Aleutian Basin oil and gas potential--available from the Web Added Value Download Resource Center at jrosspub.com

Download or read book Federal Register written by and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page 196 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Encyclopedia of Public Administration and Public Policy 5 Volume Set written by Domonic A. Bearfield and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2020-08-14 with total page 3897 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Now in its third edition, Encyclopedia of Public Administration and Public Policy remains the definitive source for article-length presentations spanning the fields of public administration and public policy. It includes entries for: Budgeting Bureaucracy Conflict resolution Countries and regions Court administration Gender issues Health care Human resource management Law Local government Methods Organization Performance Policy areas Policy-making process Procurement State government Theories This revamped five-volume edition is a reconceptualization of the first edition by Jack Rabin. It incorporates over 225 new entries and over 100 revisions, including a range of contributions and updates from the renowned academic and practitioner leaders of today as well as the next generation of top scholars. The entries address topics in clear and coherent language and include references to additional sources for further study.

Download or read book Hydrologic and Aquatic Species Implications of the Proposed Pebble Mine Bristol Bay Alaska written by Fiona Cundy and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 35 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Bristol Bay, Alaska is one of the last ecosystems left on earth that haqs gone unaltered by human impacts. Bristol Bay watershed supports the largest wild sockeye salmon runs on the planet with nearly 42 million salmon migrating to the watersheds headwaters every year. The proposed Pebble Mine, containing gold, copper, and molybdenum has threatened the health of this watershed. This project asks what effects the proposed Pebble Mine will have on water quality and quantity, and more specifically, how the withdrawal of groundwater and surface water will alter the regions most pristine anadromous salmonid spawning grounds. Though comprehensive studies have been done, the groundwater of this region remains a comples topic. This research formulates unanswered questions related to groundwater that need to be answered before mining advances. Due to the unknown properties of the region's groundwater and hydrologic regime, mining poses significant risk to water quality, quantity, and aquatic species of the Bristol Bay watershed.

Download or read book Bristol Bay s Wild Salmon Ecosystems and the Pebble Mine written by Dave Chambers and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 111 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Bristol Bay Comprehensive Salmon Plan written by Bristol Bay Regional Planning Team and published by . This book was released on 1988 with total page 138 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: