Clean Water Initiatives approved but court battle looms

The state announced this afternoon that the two versions of the Clean Water initiatives have received enough valid signatures from Alaska voters to qualify for the statewide election ballot in August.
The intiatives are an effort to set new rules for large metallic mines, banning them from discharging anything toxic into salmon streams or drinking water sources.
Ordinarily, getting enough signatures means that the initiatives will get on the ballot.
But the initiatives are embroiled in a legal battle over their constitutionality.
The initiative sponsors and their adversaries in the mining industry say they plan to take that battle to the state Supreme Court.

ADN Mining Blog