Pebble mine opponents lose court case over 2014 EPA report

Pebble opponents have lost a court case against the proposed copper and gold mine in Alaska’s Bristol Bay region.

U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason ruled the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency could withdraw a “proposed determination” dating from 2014 about potential negative mine impacts, Alaska Public Media reported.

The EPA determination had concluded the mining project posed too great a threat to the salmon-rich waters of Bristol Bay.

The judge's ruling was based on the amount of latitude government agencies have and what is subject to legal review, rather than the merits or dangers of the mine.

[Pebble sees signs in new federal report that mine will secure key approval]

The case focused on a “preemptive veto” the EPA issued during the administration of President Barack Obama, before Pebble Limited Partnership filed an application for the mine in Southwest Alaska.

The mine's federal permit application is pending with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the EPA retains the right to veto the permit, a power that was not diminished by Friday's ruling.

The mine proposal has loomed over the region for years. But Pebble Limited Partnership did not apply for a permit while Obama was in office.

The mining company and Alaska's congressional delegation have complained of government overreach, saying the EPA tried to veto the project before seeing an application. The mining company eventually applied for a Clean Water Act permit in 2017.

The EPA said last year it would withdraw its proposed determination against the mine, which prompted the lawsuit by mine foes including the organizations Trout Unlimited, SalmonState and Bristol Bay Economic Development Corp.

The Corps of Engineers plans to issue its final environmental impact statement on the project this summer, one of the last steps before issuing a decision on the permit.

The EPA has said the science that the Corps is relying upon is inadequate and likely understates the harm to the bay.