Questions have been raised about when the Legislature would get involved in approving a large-scale mine in the Bristol Bay region if a ballot initiative passes this November.
The initiative says in addition to permits, a final authorization would be needed from the Legislature for any large-scale metallic sulfide mining operation within the watershed of the Bristol Bay Fisheries Reserve. The measure would have implications for the proposed Pebble Mine.
At a hearing Tuesday, Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell asked when lawmakers would get involved and what would happen if additional permits were needed after the Legislature acted.
Initiative supporter Anders Gustafson, with the Renewable Resources Coalition, said he expected legislative involvement after the major permits were secured. He said the intent was not to go back to the Legislature repeatedly.
