Both sides of Alaska mining measure face penalties
Published Thursday, October 1, 2009
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Stumble It!ANCHORAGE, Alaska - State election regulators are concluding their cases against both sides of a mining ballot initiative rejected by Alaska voters last year.
Ballot Measure 4 - calling for new limits on water pollution from large mines - was an attempt to block development of Pebble Mine, a copper and gold prospect in southwest Alaska.
The Alaska Public Offices Commission has been investigating allegations of campaign violations by both sides.
The commission last week reached a $20,000 settlement over charges against a pro-initiative group, the Washington, D.C.-based Americans for Job Security, which provided much of the funding used to push the measure.
The APOC said the true source of the money was hidden: Pebble opponent Bob Gillam, an Anchorage businessman with a home near the Pebble deposit.
The group does not admit any guilt in the settlement. The commission did not forward criminal allegations to the state attorney general.
The Anchorage Daily News reports the commission also is in final settlement negotiations with Gillam and other initiative backers, according to attorneys involved. Among other charges, proponents are accused of conspiring to hide most of Gillam's donations.
Art Hackney, one of the sponsors of the measure, said that in settlement documents being signed, the backers have agreed to pay a collective $35,000.
Commission staff also has proposed fines against Alaska mining firms and others that lobbied against the initiative.
The APOC staff recommends a $21,000 fine against the Council of Alaska Producers, a coalition of mining companies. The staff also recommends a $61,200 fine against Alaskans Against the Mining Shutdown.
The pro-mining groups are accused of fully disclosing their spending only well after the election.
Community Discussion
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How many jewelery makers have boycotted Pebble Gold? Just today, another headline says that the makers of class rings are added to the ranks of user boycotts. I believe this speaks highly against Pebble and all they stand for.
ahh dukit... Gillam and the Washington, D.C.-based Americans for Job Security are anti-Pebble entities. How does that speak highly against Pebble?
The only thing that Pebble will do is dry up that stream of Kool-aid you are drinking.
Who drinks kool-aid? YUCK!!! {And don't waste space being condesending, Samm; I do understand the reference]
The ruling does under-line the present state of Ak politics, in relation to resource 'harvest' of all varieties. There are so many paid-for special interests, trying to buy the vote with one-sided, frequently inaccurate, info. Got to do your own research, paying close attention to your sources and their possible vested interests.
I've done my research. Mine Pebble!
Yes we should mine Pebble!
A jewelry maker boycott is Madison Avenue image hype.
Jewelry makers are trying to sell jewelry at a profit and people are drinking up the Madison Avenue hype.
Anchorage money manager Bob Gillam spent 2.6 million dollars on a misleading scam to reduce the investment price for Pebble while his holding company invested hundreds of millions of dollars in Pebble. The APOC findings are just the beginning findings in Gilliam’s scam. This was back in June of this year. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the next in line to take on Gillam for his misinformation scheme.
open pebble!!!!
As was originally pointed out in the Pebble Story, they have several Permits to obtain, and that process will take some time. To get those permits, the Mining Company must prove that there will be no (or limited) negative impact on the the waterways, the land, and the air of the area in question. It seems a lot of people are going on the pretense that these permits are as good as granted, when the process hasn't even started yet.
and as for madison ave .... if they blow hard enough about pebble gold everybody will forget about the blood diamonds (at least for a while)
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