Shively brings his experience to Pebble: Pebble Partnership president weighs in on the large-scale mine project.

• Author: Liles, Patricia
• Position: MINING

In early April, The Pebble Partnership announced selection of longtime Alaskan John Shively as the new president and chief executive officer of the joint venture. Formed in 2007 by developer Northern Dynasty Minerals and global mining giant Anglo American PLC, it oversees development of the large copper-gold-molybdenum deposit in Southwest Alaska.

"John shares our view that Pebble must go beyond compliance to ensure that the project can co-exist with clean water and healthy fisheries. He is also passionate about working in partnership with local communities to develop the project in a way that generates the greatest possible benefit for Alaskans," said Cynthia Carroll, CEO of Anglo American, in the news release announcing Shively's appointment.

Shively's first tasks included recruiting the partnership's senior management team and overseeing Pebble's 2008 work program and a $140 million budget that includes work on engineering, exploration, environmental data-gathering and community relations programs.

Shively was actively involved with NANA, the Alaska Native regional corporation in Northwest Alaska, in obtaining land selection rights for the area where the Red Dog zinc and lead mine is currently located. During his 17-year tenure at NANA, Shively helped negotiate terms by which Red Dog Mine was developed in partnership with the operating company, Teck Cominco.

Shively also served as chief of staff to Gov. Bill Sheffield and later, as the State's commissioner of natural resources (DNR). He was most recently employed as vice president of government and community relations for Holland America Line. Born and raised in New York State, Shively moved to Alaska in 1965.

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ABM: Describe Pebble--is it a copper deposit with lots of gold, or a gold deposit with lots of copper?

Shively: It's a copper deposit with gold and molybdenum both, and other trace minerals.

ABM: What about the molybdenum--what does that add to the value of the mineral deposit?

Shively: In terms of percentage, I can't answer that. It's a significant amount, so that when we give our announcements, we give the amount of molybdenum. It's significant enough to note.

ABM: John, why did you individually choose to become involved with the Pebble project?

Shively: Well, I was on my way to Alaska Psychiatric Institute ... obviously I knew how controversial the project was. A couple reasons--the first was, I thought the project had some major potential to help a part...