We took the liberty to correct the Beacon’s oversimplification. The claim that the entire Kvichak watershed would be damaged by the Pebble project isn’t accurate. In reality, most surface impacts would occur in the upper North Fork Koktuli area, with some in the South Fork, and only a single bridge crossing in the Upper Talari Creek area of the Kvichak watershed. Saying the whole watershed would be harmed is overly broad and misleading.
Pebble Mine, halted by EPA order, gets support from national development groups
James Brooks, Alaska Beacon, December 1, 2025
Developers’ efforts to overturn the cancellation of a vast gold and copper mine planned for southwest Alaska are getting a boost from national mining and pro-business groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
On Nov. 24 and Nov. 25, the Chamber and the National Mining Association filed separate friend-of-the-court briefs in the lawsuit brought by the developers of the proposed Pebble Mine against the Environmental Protection Agency, which vetoed the mine.
Neither group has intervened in the case against the EPA, but the briefs represent the groups’ support for the proposed mine and offer legal arguments that Judge Sharon Gleason could consider as she debates whether to move the project forward.
In 2023, the EPA invoked a rarely used “veto” clause of the Clean Water Act to say that there was no way that the proposed Pebble Mine could be developed without significant harm to the environment. The large mineral deposit is located at the headwaters of Bristol Bay, the most abundant sockeye salmon fishery in the world.
The administration of Gov. Mike Dunleavy, which supports the project, and the proposed mine’s developers, filed separate lawsuits in federal court to overturn the rejection, as did two Native corporations that work as contractors for the developers. Those cases have since been combined.
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case directly, which has left the issue in front of Judge Sharon Gleason in the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska.
Another lawsuit filed by the state claims that if the veto is upheld, the federal government will owe Alaska $700 billion, the state’s estimate for the value of the mine if built as planned. That case has been put on hold until the District Court rules.
“Alaska’s proposed regulation changes cover 105 pages of technically dense language. One important change: A carbon dioxide well wouldn’t be permitted if it needed to pass through a drinking water aquifer.”
Alaska publishes draft rules for new program intended to bury carbon dioxide, key to gas pipeline
James Brooks, Alaska Beacon, November 28, 2025
The state of Alaska is close to finalizing rules for a program that would allow companies to bury carbon dioxide deep underground, a process known as sequestration.
While sequestration can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by heavy industry, it also would be a boon to the proposed trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline. Many sources of natural gas on the North Slope are mixed with large amounts of carbon dioxide, and that carbon must be separated from the natural gas before shipment.
Venting that carbon dioxide to the atmosphere would notably increase global greenhouse gas emissions, accelerating climate change.
On Tuesday, the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission announced that it had completed draft regulations for the state’s “carbon storage and underground injection” program, which will involve the state taking over regulation of carbon dioxide wells from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The Alaska Legislature passed — and Gov. Mike Dunleavy signed — a law in 2023 that allows the takeover. The initial phases of the project were funded by the Biden administration under a federal grant. Subsequent years are expected to cost the state about $386,000 per year.
Four other states — Louisiana, North Dakota, West Virginia and Wyoming — have already assumed regulatory authority over “class VI wells” used to inject carbon dioxide; state control has tended to permit faster action on carbon sequestration projects.
Understand why the Donlin Gold project in Alaska represents one of the most significant undeveloped resources within stable jurisdictions.
Donlin Gold Alaska: $7.4B Project Targets 2026 Development Decision,
Muflih Hidayat,Discovery Alert, December 1, 2025
Understanding Alaska’s Largest Undeveloped Gold Resource
Southwest Alaska hosts one of the world’s most significant undeveloped gold concentrations, with the Donlin Gold project representing a resource base estimated between 34-45 million ounces. This scale positions the deposit among the top tier of global undeveloped resources, comparable to major producing operations worldwide.
The geological setting provides natural advantages for large-scale extraction, with mineralization distributed across multiple zones that demonstrate consistent grade characteristics. Recent drilling campaigns continue to validate resource continuity, with 2025 results including intercepts of 4.38 meters at 26.22 g/t gold and 41.09 meters at 3.06 g/t gold across multiple mineralized zones.
Strategic Location Within Alaska’s Mining Corridor
The project’s location within Alaska’s established mining belt provides access to existing transportation networks and proximity to energy infrastructure. Southwest Alaska’s geological characteristics support the development of large-scale open-pit operations, with favorable topography and climate conditions that allow for year-round mining activities.
Regional infrastructure development opportunities extend beyond the immediate project footprint, potentially serving as catalyst for broader economic development across Alaska Native corporation lands. The project sits on lands owned by Calista Corporation and Kuskokwim Corporation, creating direct economic benefits for local Alaska Native communities.
Scale and Global Significance of the Resource Base
When compared to major global gold producers, the Donlin Gold project in Alaska demonstrates world-class characteristics that align with current gold market trends:
