Protection sought for Pebble-area river

Several conservation and business groups filed a petition with state regulators on Tuesday, asking them to designate a river near the Pebble mine prospect for special protection.

The groups want the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation to designate the Koktuli River as an outstanding national resource water under the federal Clean Water Act. Granting that status to the river would disallow new or increased pollution discharges, the groups said.

The rich copper and gold Pebble deposit straddles the north and south forks of the Koktuli River, as well as the Upper Talarik Creek.

State officials said this is the first time that anyone has ever nominated a stream or river in Alaska as an outstanding national resource water. They said they will consider the petition.

The groups nominating the Koktuli for special protection are Trout Unlimited, SnoPac Products Inc., Alaska Independent Fishermen's Marketing Association, Renewable Resources Coalition, Alaska Alpine Adventures, Nunumta Aulukestai and Nushagak-Mulchatna Wood-Tikchik Land Trust.