Pdf january 21, 2014 epa final report an assessment of potential mining impacts on salmon ecosystems of bristol bay. The scientific report took three years to develop and received over a million public comments. For example, epa explained that the 2014 proposed determination had been superseded by the permit application that pebble limited partnership submitted, the epa said in a brief. Epa region 10 initiated a process to protect one of the worlds most valuable salmon fisheries, in bristol bay, alaska, from the risks posed by a mine at the pebble deposit. Proponents argue that the mine will create jobs, provide tax. Alaska daily news 05182012 mine could hurt alaska salmon, epa warns. Epa defends lifting restrictions on alaska mine process. A report released tuesday questions the fairness of the environmental protection agency process that led to its preemptive decision to block a water discharge permit for the proposed pebble mine.
The environmental protection agency is seeking to undo a key decision that could eventually pave the way for a canadian mining company to pollute rivers in the bristol bay region of southwest alaska which supports the largest sockeye salmon fishery in the world. Epa did not selfinitiate pebble mine bristol bay survey. Jul 11, 2017 epa just announced plans to withdraw its 2014 proposed determination that, if finalized, would have placed commonsense restrictions on the proposed pebble mine in bristol bay, alaska. Jan 29, 2018 bristol bay is home to the worlds last great wild salmon run. Nov 04, 2015 the 346page report, commissioned by the pebble limited partnership, the projects developer, also said that the statements and actions of epa officials raised serious concerns about the. Epa says report on pebble mine lacks detail, likely underestimates risks to water quality. Sampling of communications between epa and mine opponents.
Environmental protection agency epa the epa has concerns regarding the extent and magnitude of the substantial. The mining project has not achieved social license, although the pebble dialogue offers. The epa dropped its opposition to the mine in june 2019 to allow the project to enter the national environmental policy act permitting process. In july 2019, epa withdrew its 2014 proposed determination issued under section. Epa region 10s proposed determination to restrict the use of certain waters in the bristol bay watershed for disposal of dredged or fill material associated with mining the pebble deposit, a large ore body in southwest alaska. More recent actions by epa to limit the size and scope of pebbles highly controversial mine have been condemned by some members of congress. Slaughter called sections of the epas draft report pure hogwash. The pebble promise in bristol bay united states house. In formal comments released tuesday, the epa says a draft report. Pebble mine is the common name of a mineral exploration project investigating a very large porphyry copper, gold, and molybdenum mineral deposit in the bristol bay region of southwest alaska, near lake iliamna and lake clark. Army corps of engineers before epa may move forward with its cwa process to specify limits on the disposal of certain material in connection with the potential pebble mine. Court for alaska, alleging that the epas preemptive veto violated. Epa just announced plans to withdraw its 2014 proposed determination that, if finalized, would have placed commonsense restrictions on the proposed pebble mine in bristol bay, alaska.
The environmental protection agency epa administrator and region 10 regional administrator are requesting public comment on this proposal to withdraw the epa region 10 july 2014 proposed determination that was issued pursuant of the clean water act, to. Withdrawal of the proposed determination for the pebble mine in alaska epar10ow20170369 the u. The epa dropped its opposition to the mine in june 2019 to allow the project. The following is a greeting given in one of the 20 indigenous languages recognized by the state of alaska. The epa may have rigged the permitting process in the alaskan copper mining project, possibly handinhand with environmentalists, to defeat the pebble mine before it even had a chance, a new report by an independent investigator suggests. Pebble limited partnership applicant proposes to develop the pebble coppergoldmolybdenum porphyry deposit pebble deposit as an openpit mine, with associated infrastructure, in southwest alaska, approximately 17 miles westnorthwest of the villages of iliamna, newhalen, and nondalton. The environmental protection agency told staff scientists that it was no longer opposing a controversial alaska mining project that could devastate one of the worlds most valuable wild salmon. Epa holding meetings on bristol bay mine in anchorage.
Pebble limited partnership annual reclamation report 2 december 31, 2017. The environmental protection agency has weighed in once again on the proposed pebble mine, and it has mine opponents cheering. Bristol bay region have come under intense criticism by the company and mine proponents. Partner in pebble mine fires back at epa report alaska gold. Pdf the pebble goldcoppermolybdenum deposit is a controversial mining project in the. Lamar smith, rtexas, chairs the house committee on science, space, and technology, which penned a letter wednesday asking epa to drop the veto of pebble mine and allow permitting to proceed. Report filed with the sec in 2011, identified the pathway for a mine unprecedented in scope. A mining company secretly collaborated with alaskas governor to lobby the trump administration to move forward with a mining project that epa. In formal comments released tuesday, the epa says a draft report on.
Bristol bay assessment final report learn more about epas assessment. Sign the petition to the epa, calling on the agency to save this national treasure by prohibiting the pebble mine. According to a cnn report, an hour after tom collier, pebble limited partnerships ceo, met with thenepa administrator scott pruitt in may. Report suggests epa colluded with enviros to kill an. Environmental protection agency epa rescinded its obamaera 2014 decision preventing consideration of the pebble mine project near bristol bay, alaska. The epa says the draft report lacks critical information and likely underestimates the. Epa dropped salmon protection after trump met with alaska. In 2012 wild salmon center and trout unlimited produced a report examining the proposed pebble mine and its potential impacts on the wild salmon fishery of bristol bay, alaska. Epa seeking public comment on withdrawal of clean water act. The time has come for the epa to exercise its authority under the clean water act and stop this disastrous mega mine. Epa report predicts pebble mine could devastate alaska.
They are fighting back hard, attacking the epa and pressuring the white house. The environmental protection agency epa administrator and region 10 regional administrator are requesting public comment on this proposal to withdraw the epa region 10 july 2014 proposed determination that was issued pursuant of the clean water act, to restrict the use of certain waters in the. Epa chief reverses course on pebble mine in alaska decision marks latest blow to vancouverbased northern dynasty minerals ltd. Uncertainty swirls around pebble mine after epa surprise. This past week the campaign to stop the mine gained a serious boost when the epa came out with a report that concluded the proposed pebble mine would pose a significant threat to the worlds largest sockeye salmon population. Epa chief reverses course on pebble mine in alaska wsj. Epa tries to extract wealth of records from stalled pebble mine. Partner in pebble mine fires back at epa report alaska. The pebble mine is unique compared to alaskas other large, hard. Chamber of commerce, the worlds largest business federation representing the. Epa staff aired concerns on pebble announcement emails. Epa sued for lifting restrictions on pebble mine project law360. Torts to block the pebble mine project from development. The pebble mine project opposition has been stifiled by scott pruitt and the epa, allowing just 30 days for comments and no microphones for public hearings.
Executive summary of the final report, an assessment of potential mining impacts on salmon ecosystems of bristol bay, alaska pdf 36 pp, 4 mb, 011414, 910r14001es. Executive summary of the pebble limited partnerships response to epas february 28, 2014 letter initiating the clean water act section 404c process for the pebble mine project in disregard of the rule of law, established precedent, and long respected public policy. Epa says pebble may be riskier than study says, rekindling. Mlw home mining section large mine permitting pebble project.
Bristol bay assessment final report 2014 bristol bay us epa. This report describes significant ecological, economic, and cultural concerns raised by proposed development of the pebble copper, gold, and molybdenum deposit in the headwaters of the bristol bay basin, which is home. Epa backtracks on alaskas pebble mine, says project could. April 29, 2014 executive summary of the pebble limited. Its scope is geographically narrow and it does not affect other deposits or mine claim holders outside of those affiliated with the pebble deposit. The environmental protection agency epa administrator and region 10 regional administrator are requesting public comment on this proposal to withdraw the epa region 10 july 2014 proposed determination that was issued pursuant of the clean water act, to restrict the use of certain waters in the south fork koktuli river, north fork koktuli river, and upper talarik creek. The long controversial pebble mine project gets a nod. The environmental protection agency issued harsh assessments of the proposed pebble mine last week, and theyve made an impression on lisa murkowski. Environmental protection agency criticism of projected. Seems like trumps epa will stop colluding with nrdc and other deceitful environmental groups.
Comparison of predicted and actual water quality at hardrock mines. Pebble mine is the common name of a very large porphyry copper, gold, and molybdenum mineral deposit in the bristol bay region of southwest alaska, near lake iliamna and lake clark. The epa told staff scientists it was no longer opposing a controversial alaska mining project that could devastate one of the worlds most valuable wild salmon fisheries just one day after. Pebblefunded report questions fairness of epas mine. Pebble limited partnership plp annual reclamation reports. The annual reclamation statement and letter of intent to do reclamation were submitted with apma a20186118 on. Pebble mine rejection by epa was from rigging, collusion. The proposal to mine the ore deposit, using largescale operations and infrastructure, is controversial. Bristol bay watershed assessment and epa 404c action. The surprise decision by the environmental protection agency epa to reverse course on consideration of a precious minerals mine in alaska has left supporters and opponents of the project. Cei urges epa to rescind pebble mine veto competitive. Jan 27, 2018 in this july, 2007 file photo, workers with the pebble mine project test drill in the bristol bay region of alaska near the village of iliamma. Environmental protection agency in this july, 2007 file photo, workers with the pebble mine project test drill in the bristol bay region of alaska near the village of iliamma. Jul 31, 2012 partner in pebble mine fires back at epa report.
The epa s decision shifted authority for the permit to the corps, which has issued a draft environmental assessment. Epa just announced plans to withdraw its 2014 proposed determination that, if finalized, would have placed commonsense restrictions on the proposed pebble mine. A report released by northern dynasty in 2011 predicted profits for mine. Reuters 05192012 epa report outlines potential pebble mine risks. Epa to withdraw water protections, open door for pebble mine. This report examines acid generation prediction methods as they apply to noncoal mining sites. The environmental protection agencys epa report from wednesday, on alaskas giant proposed pebble copper mine, may reveal government leanings. With regard to pebble, agency documents and statements from epa employees reveal the existence of an internal epa options paper that make clear the agency opposed the mine on ideological grounds and had already decided to veto the proposal in the spring of 2010well before it did any socalled science. The state of alaska large mine permitting team coordinates state permits. Epa officials have said publicly that the agencys intervention was prompted by a may 2010 petition from six alaskan tribes formally asking for the preemptive veto on the pebble mine. Unfortunately, this call went unheeded as the obama epa promulgated the proposed determination. Epa final report an assessment of potential mining impacts on salmon ecosystems of bristol bay. Comparison of the pebble mine with other alaska large hard rock mines pdf,12 pp, 117 kb, about pdf chambers and higman.
Pebble watch will post permitting status information as it becomes available. In alaska gold, frontline probes the fault lines of a growing. Epa says report on pebble mine lacks detail, likely. The lawsuit is one of three charging the epa with breaking the law when it withdrew a 2014 proposed determination setting out protections for bristol bay, alaska. Indeed, anglo american northern dynastys former partner on the pebble project, before it exited in 20 concluded that, under a range of scenarios and despite years of attempted optimization, building the mine would destroy billions of dollars of value. This action was essentially a preemptive veto on the development of a copper mine in southwest alaska aka pebble mine before the project had. It reversed the obama epas assault on a useful min. The settlement provides the pebble limited partnership pebble an opportunity to apply for a clean water act cwa permit from the u. Nov 05, 2015 cohen about the environmental protection agency s e.
On wednesday, the environmental protection agency issued its final report on the potential impacts of the proposed pebble mine on alaskas bristol bay region, with mine opponents lauding the. You may need a pdf reader to view some of the files on this page. The environmental protection agency epa is proposing to withdraw a july 2014 clean water act 404c proposed determination that would have, if finalized, imposed restrictions on the discharge of dredged or fill material associated with mining the pebble deposit in alaskas bristol bay watershed. Bristol bay watershed assessment alaska dnr state of alaska. Photo by pat clayton, fish eye guy photography in a move that surprised almost everyone involved in the fight against pebble mine, the epa announced on friday that it would not withdraw the clean water act section 404c proposed. Environmental protection agency epa, the states, and the federal land management agencies all need better tools to manage acid mine drainage at mine sites. The epas 100page comment criticizes the draft environmental impact statement on the pebble mine proposal. Comparison of the pebble mine with other alaska large. Bristol bays wild salmon ecosystems and the pebble mine. Epa pebble mine move is right and sensible the epa was right to embrace the sciencebased findings of its 2014 assessment and the feedback from local communities. This report confirms the sentiment of wwf, fishermen and communitiesand the epawho have long said that, even under the best case scenario, pebble mine is just a bad idea, said david aplin, director of outreach for the wwfus arctic program. Epa drops protection for wild salmon alaska bristol bay cnn. Mike dunleavy secretly collaborated with pebble mine to. Epa confirms negative impact of pebble mine development.
The reliability of predictions in environmental impact statements pdf,228 pp, 1451 kb, about pdf levit and chambers. Murkowski finds epa criticism of pebble mine substantial. Additionally developers will need dozens of separate permits local, state and federal to begin construction and operation of a largescale mine in bristol bay. Environmental protection agency epa released for public comment a. Pebble project eis home project overview documents eis schedule public hearings public comments contact us external resources internet explorer with version 8 or lower is not supported.
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