Pebble mine project 2013 budget is $80 million

The 2013 budget for the Pebble mine project is $80 million with the goal being to begin permitting this year.

Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. said in a news release Monday that it hopes to initiate permitting under the National Environmental Policy Act before the end of the year.

Pebble is a large copper and gold mine project in Southwest Alaska near some of the world's last and best remaining wild salmon streams.

The Canada-based Northern Dynasty Minerals says about $680 million has been spent on the Pebble Mine project, with most of the money going toward engineering, environmental and socioeconomics studies.