The Bristol Bay Protection Act is a U.S. federal bill introduced in 2024 (H.R. 8193) by Rep. Mary Sattler Peltola (D-AK) to prohibit and restrict certain actions in the Bristol Bay watershed to protect its salmon resources and ecological integrity  While the bill has not yet been enacted into law, it is part of the broader legislative and legal fight over the proposed Pebble Mine in Alaska.

Purpose and Scope

The Act:

• Prohibits the specification of the Pebble Mine project area as a disposal site under the Clean Water Act.
• Restricts actions that could discharge dredged or fill material into waters of the United States, including wetlands, in the Bristol Bay watershed.
• Addresses the EPA’s 2023 veto of the Pebble Mine, which cited unacceptable adverse effects on salmon streams, wetlands, and fisheries 

Key Environmental Concerns

The bill’s findings highlight:

• Loss of ~8.5 miles of documented anadromous fish streams.
• Loss of ~91 miles of additional streams supporting salmon.
• Loss of ~2,108 acres of wetlands and other waters supporting salmon.
• Adverse impacts on ~29 miles of salmon streams from greater than 20% changes in streamflow

Legislative and Legal Context

• Introduced: May 1, 2024, in the House, referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
• Not enacted: As of now, the bill remains in the legislative process and has not passed both chambers or been signed into law
• Parallel legal action: The Pebble Mine case (Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. v. EPA) is ongoing in federal court, with a major DOJ response deadline in February 2026 and oral arguments in June 2026 
• Alaska Legislature: In Juneau, lawmakers are also debating the Bristol Bay Forever Act, which aims to provide permanent protections for the watershed 

Why It Matters

The Bristol Bay watershed is home to the world’s largest sockeye salmon run and is central to Alaska Native cultures. The Act and related measures seek to prevent irreversible damage from mining-related discharges, which could threaten salmon populations, municipal water supplies, shellfish beds, and subsistence livelihoods 

In summary: The Bristol Bay Protection Act of 2026 is not yet law, but it is a key legislative tool in the ongoing battle to protect Bristol Bay’s salmon and ecosystems from the Pebble Mine. Its fate will depend on congressional action, while the federal court case could set a precedent regarding the EPA’s authority to block such projects.

Sources: Congress.gov, GovTrack.us, MidCurrent