A budget has been set for 2008 on the Pebble Mine project. More than $140-million has been approved by the Pebble Partnership.

The project, which is a joint effort between Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. And Anglo American plc, will begin work near the headwaters of Bristol Bay.

More than $60-million will be spent on the 2008 drilling program, said the partnership board. The goal of the program is to determine the full extent of the deposit in East Pebble.

A pre-feasibility study will require the allocation of $30-million to be spent on engineering.

An estimated $25-million will be spent on an environmental stud, and an additional $14-million will go toward public education and project support.