Regulation/Legislation – Pebble Watch

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

admin — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

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 and to decide how they wish to proceed.

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Could Chevron decision affect Pebble mine?

admin — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

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 Act by the National Marine Fisheries Service.

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

admin — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

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…

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

admin — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

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 impacts to aquatic resources.

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U.S. Army Corps in holding pattern on Pebble

admin — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

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 Limited Partnership (PLP) appealed to the Corp’s Pacific Ocean Command, which determined that some of Pebble’s arguments had merit – and that the Alaska…

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

admin — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

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 Division (POD) of the Corps, which determined that five of their…

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Next steps in the Pebble Army Corps appeal

admin — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

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 2021 and personnel from the Corps’ Northwest District…

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Pebble Watch News Roundup: June 2023

admin — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

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. However, the company’s most recent financials showed it…

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

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

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 Clean Water Act 404(c) to establish protections…

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EPA recommends protections for Bristol Bay

admin — Fri, 02 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

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 EPA press…

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