THE LINK: OCTOBER 2023 28 Photos Courtesy Pebble Limited Partnership Environmental Protection Agency blocked mine project The State of Alaska has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s unusual action last January to prohibit large mines in a 309-square-mile area of southwest Alaska. The EPA’s action was aimed at the proposed Pebble project, which would develop a large copper, gold and molybdenum deposit. The mine developer is Pebble Partnership Ltd., a subsidiary of Northern Dynasty Minerals, a Vancouver,B.C.-based minerals exploration company. Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor acknowledged that the direct appeal to the high court, bypassing lower courts, “is an extraordinary ask, but it’s appropriate given the extraordinary decision being challenged.” The EPA used its federal Clean Water Act authority under Section 404c in its decision, which was unusual in being applied to such a large area and before the mine itself had been approved. Pebble has been a focus of sharp controversy in Alaska with stiff opposition from commercial fisheries and tribal groups in the Bristol bay region, who fear a large accidental discharge at the mine would contaminate streams that support large State asks High Court to review Pebble action
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