As we reported, unofficial results are saying that Alaskan voters has passed Ballot Measure 4 by 65.32%.
That initiative would implement an additional step where legislature approves the proposed projects after the permitting process is done for large-scale metallic sulfide mines in the Bristol Bay Fisheries Reserve.
Mike Heatwole with the Pebble Partnership had talked about controversy of even having that initiative on the ballot.
Heatwole: “There’s a real question, should it pass, about the constitutionality under what’s called the separation of powers doctrine between the branches of government, and our system of course the legislature deliberates and passes the laws, the executive branch then administers as governed by the legislature, and the judicial reviews those laws for their legality and constitutionality and what ballot measure 4 essentially does is give the legislature another pass or bite at the apple in this process.”
However, Executive Director Anders Gustafson of the Renewable Resources Coalition, a leading contributor to getting the initiative on the ballot, said those arguments are invalid.
Gustafson: “That’s an argument that was made, I would argue unsuccessfully, that this is politicizing a permitting process, and it really isn’t, the permitting process still stands alone. A company would still need to go through the permitting process and is expected to do so and that scientific discussion could take place in that process. The initiative clearly lays out that once you’re through that permitting process or near the very end, you need to also go to a public process and involve the public in the decision making.”
He said the numbers reflected in the 65% yes should indicate that Alaskans are standing with Bristol Bay and want to protect salmon fisheries.
Gustofson also said he does not think the absentee ballots will sway the lead that ballot measure 4 currently has.