When the EPA issued its final determination under the Clean Water Act in January 2023, effectively blocking the Pebble Mine from proceeding, many Alaskans assumed the fight was over.

It wasn't.

Federal lobbying disclosures filed with the Senate and House, combined with Alaska Public Offices Commission records, reveal that the Pebble Limited Partnership and its parent company, Northern Dynasty Minerals, have spent more than $12 million on lobbying since the veto — a figure that exceeds their spending in any comparable period before the project was blocked.

Where the Money Goes

The bulk of the spending has gone to three Washington, D.C. lobbying firms retained to maintain relationships with Alaska's congressional delegation and key committee members. The firms collectively billed $7.4 million from 2023 through the first quarter of 2026.

In Alaska, the partnership's PAC contributed $340,000 to state legislative candidates in the 2024 cycle, with a heavy concentration among members of the Resources and Finance committees.

Additionally, the partnership funded a nonprofit called "Alaska's Resource Future" that has spent $2.1 million on public communications campaigns — advertising, mailers, and sponsored content — promoting resource development in Southwest Alaska. The organization does not disclose its donors, but corporate filings link it directly to Northern Dynasty's Anchorage office.

The Legal Strategy

Beyond lobbying, Pebble has invested in a multi-front legal challenge to the EPA's authority. The company's 2025 annual report disclosed $3.8 million in legal fees related to the Clean Water Act challenge, which is currently before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Legal experts we consulted gave the challenge mixed prospects.

What This Means for Bristol Bay

For the fishing communities and Alaska Native villages that fought for decades against the mine, the continued spending is a reminder that federal regulatory decisions are rarely final.

The Bristol Bay commercial salmon fishery, valued at approximately $2 billion annually, supports thousands of jobs across the region.

This story is based on federal lobbying disclosures, Alaska APOC filings, SEC filings by Northern Dynasty Minerals, and interviews with lobbyists, legislative staff, and legal experts.