John Shively started work April 2 as president and chief executive officer of the Pebble Partnership, a company formed in 2007 by Anglo American and Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd., the two companies that own state minerals leases on two large mineral ore bodies that have been identified at Pebble.

“In my view, the Pebble Project presents a tremendous opportunity for the people of Bristol Bay and all Alaska,” Shively said in a statement. “The global significance of the mineral deposit at Pebble is without question. Our challenge now is to see if we can find a way to work together to develop the resource that is consistent with the values and priorities of local communities, of Alaska Natives and the citizens of the state.”

Most recently Shively was vice president of government and community relations for Holland America Line. He served 17 years with NANA Regional Corp. during two different periods. He and other NANA leaders negotiated agreements with Teck Cominco Ltd. to develop the Red Dog Mine.

Shively left NANA to work with Gov. Bill Sheffield in the mid-1980s and then returned to NANA to help the corporation oversee the development of Red Dog, which is on NANA-owned lands. Red Dog is now the world's largest lead-zinc mine.

Today Red Dog is a major employer in communities in Northwest Alaska and is considered a model of cooperative development involving local communities.

“Red Dog is different than Pebble because NANA owns the lands and had a big say in how the mine was developed,” Shively said. “Pebble is on state-owned lands, but my experience with Red Dog shows us that we have got to assume leadership to ensure that this mine will help the local communities and Native corporations, or else the mine won't happen.”

Experience as state commissioner of natural resources under two terms of the Gov. Tony Knowles administration also gives Shively background in how the state will go about issuing permits for the mine and in how state government works in general, Shively said.

The Pebble Mine, located about 200 miles southwest of Anchorage, is one of the largest copper and gold deposits in the world. It is situated near Bristol Bay, an area that also has some of the most productive wild salmon rivers in the world.

Shively's immediate task will be to staff the new operating company, which will be headquartered in Anchorage, he said. People will be recruited to fill various positions in engineering, environmental, public affairs, human resources and administrative positions, Shively said. About 12 people now work in the company's office but that will increase to about 30 in coming months.

About 120 people are employed in field operations at the Pebble project as the company continues exploration and environmental work. This year Pebble will pay about $3 million to people hired from local communities in the Iliamna and Bristol Bay regions, said Sean Magee, public affairs manager for Northern Dynasty Minerals.