News Roundup: October 6, 2015
This week’s news related to the proposed Pebble mine includes the release William Cohen’s report on the EPA and details about Pebble Partnership’s litigation activity as it pursues a case against the EPA.
Secretary William S. Cohen Releases The Report Of His Independent Review Concerning The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Actions In Connection With Its Evaluation Of Potential Mining In Alaska’s Bristol Bay Watershed (October 6, 2015 – PR Newswire)
Last spring the Pebble Limited Partnership (PLP) hired William S. Cohen to conduct an independent review of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and development of the Bristol Bay Watershed Assessment. Cohen released the 364-page report today. In it, he calls for further investigation of the EPA by Congress and EPA’s Inspector General.
Pebble subpoenas emails, documents from anti-mine activists (October 3, 2015 – Alaska Dispatch News)
Alaska Dispatch News reports on the Pebble Limited Partnership’s (PLP) pursuit of information over the last decade from more than 60 individuals. PLP hopes to support its case against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which was in the process of development limitations on development at Pebble when a federal judge approved a preliminary injunction against continuing that process until litigation had been resolved. As part of the litigation, PLP has issued subpoenas to EPA employees, former employees, scientists, activists who have spoken out against the mine, and others. Some individuals have filed documents attempting to quash the subpoena requests, citing – among other reasons – the broad scope of the subpoena (covering 11 years worth of emails), burden and cost associated with a response, and negative impact it would have on their future participation in publically debated issues.