ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The state has suspended short-term water and land use permits at the Pebble Mine near Bristol Bay.

The problem involves withdrawals of water from lakes and streams outside areas where it is permitted. The Department of Natural Resources says the unpermitted water withdrawals occurred at 45 sites over a three-year period.

The Pebble Partnership, the industry group pushing for development of the mine in southwest Alaska, reported the unpermitted withdrawals to the state last November.

Pebble has agreed to pay a $45,000 fine and come up with a plan to prevent unpermitted water withdrawals in the future.

Northern Dynasty Minerals and Anglo American are developing Pebble - a huge copper and gold deposit near some of the best-producing wild salmon streams.