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April 2023

Connect with agencies on federal and state permitting issues

There are two opportunities for the public to learn more or give input on permitting that affects development projects in Alaska. Public testimony opportunity: Senate Finance Committee The State of Alaska has been looking into the benefits of taking over Clean Water Act Section 404 permitting from the federal government. Governor Dunleavy has requested funding … Continued

1

February 2023

EPA completes 404(c) process with a final determination to protect Bristol Bay

General Post

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has determined that certain activities associated with development of the proposed Pebble mine “will have unacceptable adverse effects on certain salmon fishery areas in the Bristol Bay watershed.” As a result, the EPA issued a Final Determination, the last step in a long process to use its authority under the … Continued

2

December 2022

EPA recommends protections for Bristol Bay

General Post

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Region 10 Administrator Casey Sixkiller has recommended that the agency prohibit and restrict certain waters in the Bristol Bay watershed from activities associated with developing the Pebble mine. The Recommended Determination is the latest action in the Clean Water Act 404(c) process that began in 2014. According to an … Continued

27

July 2022

Have you commented to the EPA yet?

General Post

Have you submitted a comment on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's revised Proposed Determination for Bristol Bay? The agency is accepting public input until September 6, 2022.

26

May 2022

EPA releases new Proposed Determination that recommends protections for Bristol Bay

General Post

Public comment period is open through July 5, 2022. Today the EPA released an anticipated revision to a 2014 Proposed Determination, a step in a revived regulatory process that would completely prohibit discharges of dredge and fill material within the footprint of the 2020 Pebble mine plan. This area is shown in gray in EPA’s … Continued

28

January 2022

EPA plans to issue a revised 404(c) Proposed Determination

General Post

On January 27, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its intent to issue a revised version of a Clean Water Act 404(c) Proposed Determination regarding the Pebble deposit. EPA notified Pebble developers and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers directly “to ensure there is ample opportunity for full consideration of available information to determine … Continued

19

November 2021

EPA extends decision-making deadline for Bristol Bay protections

General Post

More than ten years ago, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began the process of assessing the Bristol Bay Watershed to determine whether it should implement protections for the region under its Clean Water Act 404(c) authority. Today the question of EPA protections is still unanswered – and will be for another six months. This … Continued

23

January 2021

Appeal of permit denial submitted by Pebble Partnership and the State of Alaska

General Post

The Pacific Ocean Division (POD) of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has received requests for appeal from the Pebble Limited Partnership (PLP) and the State of Alaska, according to a spokesman from the POD. The appeal follows a November 2020 decision by the Corps’ Alaska District to deny PLP a major permit necessary to … Continued

5

January 2021

Corps retires its Pebble permitting website

General Post

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has retired its public-facing website that provided access to documents and public comments related to Pebble Limited Partnership’s (PLP) 404 permit application. That permit process began when PLP submitted an application in December 2017 and concluded in November 2020 with a Record of Decision (ROD) that denied a Clean … Continued

9

December 2020

Pebble project – what happens next?

General Post

If there’s one thing that’s certain about the Pebble project, it’s that nothing is certain. The project has engendered high interest, both for and against, for years. And its extreme swings of fortune have provided both sides extreme highs and lows. The Pebble project has survived several events that could have sunk other projects: major … Continued