Top Accomplishments
Protected Oceans from Mine Waste Dumping
Citigroup and Standard Chartered announced that they would stop financing the risky practice of dumping mine waste into oceans. The archaic process does not belong in modern mining and poses serious risks to fisherfolk, communities, and the environment.
Protected the Cabinet Mountains
For the first time, Montana initiated enforcement of the “Bad Actor” law to prevent Hecla’s CEO from obtaining new mining permits – because he failed to clean up past operations.
Exposed an Air Pollution Loophole
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) audited a key district’s loophole-riddled pollution credit system after our report, Undeserved Credit: Why emissions banking in California’s San Joaquin Valley puts air quality at risk exposed how companies were abusing it. Any resulting changes could give California’s San Joaquin Valley respite from rampant ozone and particle pollution from oil and gas drilling.
Protected Core Federal Environmental Laws and Regulations
The mining lobby attempted to eviscerate community and environmental oversight of their industry with a proposed rider to the defense bill in Congress that would have allowed federal agencies to forego National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance for virtually any type of mining operation. The rider was removed after our campaign – a huge victory in the face of unprecedented Trump administration environmental rollbacks.
Took Aim at Proposed Alaskan Mine Investors
The proposed Pebble Mine was dealt a major blow when First Quantum Minerals backed out of their deal with Northern Dynasty Minerals to construct the mine. The proposed mine threatens Alaska’s Bristol Bay, home to the largest sockeye salmon fishery in the world.
