First, a bit about why I think this issue is important. Despite its obvious benefit to the people of Nondalton, Bob Gillam has used misinformation and perhaps other less honorable means to stall and attempt to kill this project. And like the Pebble project, the reason he doesn't want the bridge is that he thinks it will affect his vacation home. For those who think Bob Gillam might be motivated by something other than his private playground, it is well worth looking at the bridge. In 1996--when Pebble was off of everyone's radar screen--Gillam hired a lawyer and began a series of lawsuits and legislative efforts to kill the bridge. His stated reasons were protection of his lodge. So the Nondalton bridge is a microcosm. It looks like Bob Gillam can buy a small town. Can he buy Alaska too?

The story of the bridge is this. The state Department of Transpiration has planned and funded a bridge to connecting to a road from Nondalton to other villages in the area. Much of the project was built in the 1980s, but because of a lack of funding,the final bit of road and the bridge were not completed. More recently, funding has been available. Many people think that completing the project is important because, a number of Nondalton residents have died when vehicles fell through the ice in attempts to cross the Newhalen River or Sixmile Lake. Apart from safety, there are other benefits too. A petition signed by Nondalton residents put it this way:

As a resident of the community of Nondalton I fully support the Iliamna-Nondalton Road and Bridge Project because of the following:

1. Decrease the loss of life crossing the Newhalen River, and
2. Access to the Regional Clinic located in Iliamna, and
3. Access to the Iliamna Airport, hub for freight and air service, and
4. Reduce the cost of living in Nondalton; fuel, groceries, and freight, and
5. Access to employment in Iliamna, Newhalen, and Nondalton, and
6. Access to community events held throughout the year in the communities of Nondalton, Iliamna, and Newhalen

Community leaders have contended that Nondalton people overwhelmingly support the bridge, yet the villagers recently rejected the bridge design in a recent poll by a vote of 51 to 27. So, what's the story? A closer look at the opposition to the bridge suggests that it isn't really opposition at all, but something strange. Many opponents say they want a bridge, but they want a different kind of bridge. They want a suspension bridge or one with the piers farther apart. They complained that they might not be able to get their boats through even though the piers were 118 feet apart. Many of the objections bordered on nonsense, but they all had one thing in common, they had the effect of killing the project--or making it appear that Nondalton wanted the project killed--because of their impracticality. And of course, the argument resulted in a NO vote.

And of course the Pebble project played a part. Villagers had been told that mine trucks from Pebble would cross the bridge. source It seemed to make no difference that the State Department of Transportation said that the bridge was not designed to carry loads of mine trucks.

source

Interesting Fact: The annual cash income of everyone in Nondalton--about $1.8 million--is less than Bob Gillam has spent on his advertising campaign to kill the Pebble Mine. When one adds in lobbyists and donations to groups and people to "build alliances," who knows what the ratio would be. Nondalton is small change to Bob Gillam.

To find out about Nondalton look here. (You will need to select Nondalton from the list)

Nondalton Population 2000: 221
Estimated population 2005: 196
Annual per capita income: $8411 (US average $21,587)
Total employment: 47
--Government jobs: 33
--Private jobs: 14
Commercial fishing permits 14

For photos of Nondalton click here.

• I support the bridge for safety reasons, just not this design. The river and lake are dangerous under the best of conditions.
• Too many pillars in the bridge, make a span bridge if you can, also don't want it to carry heavy trucks for miners or miners' use.
• Because it sucks.
• I am not lazy, I can put my four wheeler in the boat and go across the lake, the lake freezes in the winter and it is a natural bridge, isn't it?
• Too many pillars, no lights for fog, no guard rails
• We are interested in a suspension bridge.
• We do not need the bridge.
• Too many pillars in the river.
• We don't need this bridge. Don't need any pillars in the water. This bridge will not be for emergency use. The Pebble mine cannot use this bridge. Put in a expansion bridge.

So what do the people of Nondalton want? Do they just want what Bob Gillam wants? He has told them that he is doing this because "He said he wanted to give back to the people of the region." source I don't think so. A number of officials have complained that at least some of the people of Nondalton have been "bought off." Could this be so? Could confusion reign because of the big dollars that Gillam has poured into this?

Five "community leaders" have appeared in numerous ads paid for by Gillam's group, the Renewable Resources Coalition. They have taken rides in his jet to lobby in Juneau. source.

Other community leaders have taken a dimmer view of Gillam's actions:

• "He thinks it's going to ruin his piece of paradise," Bob Tracey, Nondalton mayor. source
• "The effort to link the (bridge and Pebble) is yet another example of an effort by wealthy outside special interests and 'others' using fear tactics to influence local voters," Glen Alsworth, Borough Mayor. source