Pebble Limited Partnership maintains that there is still a future for the proposed Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay, despite a recent revival of a tool of the Clean Water Act that could permanently block projects like Pebble from being developed in Bristol Bay [WEB: — Section 404c of the act].
A U.S. District Court ruling Friday allowed the Environmental Protection Agency to officially restart a process to consider permanent protections for Bristol Bay. That reverses a 2019 decision by the Trump administration, which withdrew the EPA’s 2014 proposal for protections.
In an email, Pebble spokesperson Mike Heatwole said QUOTE:
“It is important to note that the previous EPA action was based on a flawed, hypothetical scenario and not on an actual, detailed mine plan as was submitted for permitting by the Pebble Partnership to the United States Army Corps of Engineers.” UNQUOTE
The company also maintains that the Army Corps’ 2020 environmental impact statement of the mine was proof that development of the mine would not “harm the Bristol Bay fishery” and would have “no impact on water quality.” It also states that it would be an economic boon for the region.
Despite those claims, the Army Corps of Engineers denied a federal permit for Pebble in 2020. That was after determining that the plan for the mine would not comply with the Clean Water Act, and that the project is not in the public interest.
Going forward, Heatwole says that the company will “continue to work with the state of Alaska and the EPA to demonstrate facts and technical information about Pebble.”
Heatwole adds that the company remains focused on its appeal of the Army Corps’ decision to deny a permit. The Corps is currently reviewing the company’s appeal. [WEB: Governor Mike Dunleavy also filed an appeal in January and said that denial of the permit could set a “dangerous precedent” for future resource development in Alaska. The Corps denied that request in march.]
Tyler Thompson
Host/Reporter
KDLG Public Radio