Northern Dynasty Minerals, the parent company of the U.S. subsidiary Pebble Limited Partnership wrote to the recently confirmed Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Michael Regan, providing a brief status update on Alaska’s Pebble Project and urging the new administrator to support “a full and fair process”.
Pebble Partnership CEO John Shively wrote, “As someone who has spoken directly about the criticality of fair process and the need for data and facts to show the path for important regulatory decisions, we hope you will advocate for this comprehensive NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) review process as the correct way to sort through complex technical matters.”
The letter provides a 2 ½ year overview of the federal permitting process, which began in December 2017 with the submission of a Project Description and the application for a key federal permit under the Clean Water Act summarizing the broad federal and state regulatory agency and public participation in the Environmental Impact Statement and permitting process for Pebble.
In July 2020, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers published a Final Environmental Impact Statement, which Northern Dynasty claims represents the most relevant, objective and science-based assessment of the Pebble Project. The Final EIS reportedly found that the proposed mine wouldn’t affect regional water quality, fish populations or the commercial, subsistence and sport fisheries that depend on them.
Shively wrote, “Thus, the definitive record for the Pebble Project shows it can be developed responsibly, without harm to the Bristol Bay fishery, and for the social and economic benefit of communities closest to the proposed operation, the vast majority of whose citizens are Alaska Natives.”
Despite the Final Environmental Impact Statement from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, a negative Record of Decision was issued for the Pebble Project in November 2020. The Pebble Partnership has appealed citing that the Army Corps of Engineers’ Final Environmental Impact Statement doesn’t support conclusions used to deny the permit. In a statement, the Pebble Project said that they’re offering to meet with Admin. Regan and his staff, urging the new EPA Administrator to support due process.
