Contact Us
Questions? For more information, email us at r10bristolbay@epa.gov
Staff Contacts:
- Judy Smith (smith.judy@epa.gov), Community Involvement Coordinator, 503-326-6994
- Tami Fordham (fordham.tami@epa.gov),
Tribal Liaison, 907-271-1484
- Richard Parkin (parkin.richard@epa.gov), Management Lead, 206-553-8574
Presentations
EPA held a series of public meetings and webinars in June and July to provide an overview of the draft watershed assessment.
Where is Bristol Bay?
Bristol Bay is located at the northeastern end of the Alaskan peninsula.
Project Summary
The EPA released for public comment a draft scientific study of the Bristol Bay watershed and its natural resources. EPA’s report responds to growing interest in large-scale mining in the watershed from a number of stakeholders and local communities with a range of views and will lead to a better understanding of potential environmental impacts of these activities on the watershed. Under the Clean Water Act, EPA has the authority and responsibility to protect the nation’s water and perform scientific studies that enhance the agency’s and the public’s knowledge of water resources. EPA's focus in the assessment is scientific and technical; the agency has made no judgments about the use of its regulatory authority under the Clean Water Act and
the draft study in no way prejudges future consideration of proposed mining activities.
Updates
(Feb. 5, 2013) EPA is making arrangements for the 12 original Bristol Bay Watershed Assessment peer reviewers to evaluate the revisions the agency has made to the draft Bristol Bay Assessment. EPA’s goal is to determine if these revisions reflect the peer reviewers’ feedback, which EPA received in fall of 2012. This peer review follow-up will be conducted in spring 2013.
As part of EPA’s continued commitment to public involvement since launching the Bristol Bay Watershed Assessment, the agency intends to hold a public comment period on the revised assessment concurrent with the peer review evaluation. EPA’s primary objective is to make sure the agency is using the best available science. EPA intends to finalize the assessment in 2013 after carefully considering the scientific peer review and public comment.
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The public comment period for the Draft Bristol Bay Watershed Assessment closed on July 23. View all public comments submitted during the comment period (Docket EPA-HQ-ORD-2012-0276)
Documents
An Assessment of Potential Mining Impacts on Salmon Ecosystems of Bristol Bay, Alaska