Pro-Pebble Mine group sues EPA for blocking mine development [Video]

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Two groups looking to develop a large-scale copper and gold mine in Western Alaska sued the federal government Friday in hopes of restarting mine development.

In a statement released Friday morning, Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. said it was filing two separate legal actions with the Pebble Partnership against the Environmental Protection Agency, which blocked the proposed project last year.

The EPA issued its determination under the Clean Water Act in January 2023, stating that a large-scale mine in that area of Alaska would have devastating environmental effects on the Bristol Bay watershed, which houses a massive salmon fishery.

Northern Dynasty said Friday that its lawsuit is centered around the EPA veto that put a stop to future mining prospects.

“We are confident that the court will vacate the EPA veto and allow permitting of the Pebble project to resume because, as we have previously stated, the veto violated the law and was arbitrary and capricious,” the statement read.

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