So devil’s advocate argument here: how much proposed benefit to the locals and State would this operation offer? Everyone knows of the huge potential impact to the fishery. What are the economical arguments tendered by the mining officials to counter this? I admit to not seeking their point of view out as I see no benefit to AK.
What I've seen, best estimate is that on a year/year basis the mine would provide about 60-70% of the economic interest as the BB fishing with about 15% of the employment. So on a per person employment value the mine is about 5 fold greater?
Finding facts on this is quite a challenge, it all depends on how you want to see them displayed and in what light. Those towns are a friggin ghost town for 46 weeks a year. Get in, get your $$$ and get the F out. 80% of the fishermen in the area live in other states. How does that benefit Alaska? They make their money and take it home with them, but they are quick to include those dollars in the total economics.
There are tribal leaders on record stating they don't want their young people working good jobs such as mining/oil/gas because they would leave their communities. They would rather they continue to live in poverty@ 60-80% unemployment once those 8 weeks of fishing season is over. Easy to be against something when you 1, live off the government, or 2 don't live in the region (i.e. your comment as no benefit).
In terms of state revenue (i.e. taxes) The fishing industry costs the state money while the mining pays for itself about 5x over. Neither compare to oil, so it really doesn't matter, but the fact that the second largest industry in AK is subsidized by tax payes is Fd up. You would think that an industry that boasts a $6B economy would be able to cover operating costs ($120M/year) incurred by government... but politics and stuff. They are all starving fishermen if you ask them. If you think the oil industry is making a profit off natural resources, avert your eyes to fishing.
In terms of what it would mean to the region if the mine was put in, assuming that locals hold their nose and go work there. Take a look at Kotzebue. Red Dog mine is the largest employer in the region. People went from living off the government to making $100k a year, I think its about 4-450 native employees, and most live in the area. They are the single largest native employer on a percent basis, IIRC, second only to OG in the state. The mine pays something like $20M a year in (extortion) property tax to the region, while no other property tax is collected. Pebble would employ about 2-3x as many people.
I don't like comparing industries, they are all needed, but when we say one is more important than the other it can get ugly quickly. The state is hurting right now, and there is no end in sight to the economic woes. When 90% of your state revenue is generated from oil/gas taxes we need to look for any all sources. I'd personally like to see the same royalty tax applied to all natural resources to include fish.
