Pebble Limited Partnership has submitted a request for appeal to the US Army Corps of Engineers rejected Record of Decision for Alaska’s Pebble Project.
The US Army Corps of Engineers published a final Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed mine in July 2020, finding that Pebble wouldn’t have measurable effects on fish populations or fisheries in southwest Alaska. A Record of Decision was published on November 25, 2020 rejecting the key Pebble permit under the Clean Water Act, saying federal waters and wetlands would need to be dredged.
The US Army Corps of Engineers has 30 days to notify the Pebble Partnership as to whether its Record for Appeal is complete. Guidelines indicate the appeal process should conclude within 90 days, but could be extended. Northern Dynasty Minerals, the parent company of its US-based subsidiary Pebble Limited Partnership says that the findings from the US Army Corps of Engineers are contrary to law, unprecedented in Alaska and not supported by the administrative record, including the Pebble Project Environmental Impact Statement.
The Associated Press reports that Governor Mike Dunleavy announced earlier this month that the state would also appeal the permit’s rejection, saying that the decision endangers the state’s right to develop its own resources.
Additional details regarding Pebble’s Record For Appeal will be released in the days and weeks ahead.