Tags: Regulation/Legislation

25

February 2025

Northern Dynasty agrees to a 90-day pause in EPA lawsuit

New EPA leadership wants time to review the case Northern Dynasty Minerals (NDM) said it has agreed to a 90-day abeyance in its legal suit against the U.S. EPA. Ron Thiessen, NDM President and CEO said that the pause would give the new administration “time to familiarize themselves with the issues presented in this case … Continued

30

July 2024

Could Chevron decision affect Pebble mine?

General Post

In June 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court overruled a longstanding precedent called “Chevron deference” that had given federal agencies a lot of authority for how they implemented complex laws like the Clean Water Act. The Court took this action in a case entitled Loper Bright in which the Court reviewed an interpretation of the Magnuson-Stevens … Continued

27

March 2024

Northern Dynasty Minerals and State of Alaska sue over federal protections at Pebble deposit site

General Post

In March 2024, both Northern Dynasty Minerals (NDM, owner of Pebble Limited Partnership) and the State of Alaska brought lawsuits against the federal government related to its 2023 decision to establish prohibitions/restrictions on certain mining activity near the Pebble mine deposit. Overturning EPA’s Final Determination NDM’s priority case, filed in Federal District Court in Alaska, … Continued

27

March 2024

EPA began 404(c) process to protect Bristol Bay aquatic resources ten years ago

General Post

Ten years ago, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced its intent to initiate a process under the Clean Water Act Section 404(c) to restrict discharge of dredged or fill material associated with mining activity at the Pebble deposit. The 404(c) process gives the EPA “veto authority” on projects that are considered to have unacceptable adverse … Continued

1

December 2023

U.S. Army Corps in holding pattern on Pebble

General Post

Agency to wait for Supreme Court action on State of Alaska complaint The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Alaska District obtained another extension on its deadline to develop a plan for how it will review portions of its denial of a key Clean Water Act 404 permit. After that November 2020 denial, the Pebble … Continued

6

October 2023

Army Corps again pushes back date for determining how it will respond to Pebble appeal review

General Post

In April 2024 the Alaska District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) was given a unique task: look over portions of its November 2020 denial of a Clean Water Act 404 permit that effectively stopped development of the Pebble prospect in Bristol Bay. Pebble developers had appealed that decision to the Pacific Ocean … Continued

24

July 2023

Next steps in the Pebble Army Corps appeal

General Post

It’s been nearly three months since the Pacific Ocean Division (POD) of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers told the Alaska District it would have to revisit portions of its November 2020 decision to deny Pebble mine developers a key Clean Water Act 404 permit. Pebble developers had appealed the Alaska District’s decision in January … Continued

22

June 2023

Pebble Watch News Roundup: June 2023

General Post

News Roundup

Financial Northern Dynasty’s financial situation has been questionable since major investors pulled out of its singular Pebble project years ago. It did sign on an unnamed private investor last summer, which invested $12 million and could invest up to $60 million for a share of silver and gold that could be produced at the deposit. … 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