Obama blocked this controversial Alaskan gold mine. Trump just gave it new life.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Washington Post

Obama blocked this controversial Alaskan gold mine. Trump just gave it new life.

By Juliet Eilperin and Brady Dennis May 12 at 7:37 AM

The Environmental Protection Agency has reached a legal settlement with a Canadian company hoping to build a massive gold, copper and molybdenum mine in Alaskas Bristol Bay watershed, clearing the way for the firm to apply for federal permits.

The settlement reached late Thursday between the EPA and the Pebble Limited Partnership, a subsidiary of Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd., could revive a controversial project that was effectively scuttled under the Obama administration. And it underscores how President Trumps commitment to support mining extends far beyond coal, to gold, copper and other minerals.

While the move does not grant immediate approval to the Pebble Mine project, which will have to undergo a federal environmental review and also clear state hurdles before any construction takes place, it reverses the agencys 2014 determination that a large-scale mine in the area be barred because it would imperil the regions valuable sockeye salmon fishery.

In a statement, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt said that the agreement will not guarantee or prejudge a particular outcome, but will provide Pebble a fair process for their permit application and help steer EPA away from costly and time-consuming litigation.
....

Juliet Eilperin is The Washington Post's senior national affairs correspondent, covering how the new administration is transforming a range of U.S. policies and the federal government itself. She is the author of two booksone on sharks, and another on Congress, not to be confused with each otherand has worked for the Post since 1998. Follow @eilperin

Brady Dennis is a national reporter for The Washington Post, focusing on the environment and public health issues. Follow @brady_dennis

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/05/12/obama-blocked-this-controversial-alaskan-gold-mine-trump-just-gave-it-new-life/

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They aren't thinking about Russia or the FBI. While you're not looking, they're going right ahead with everything they've planned to do all along.

[bucolic_frolic]

1. The whole stolen election

was about a conservative social agenda and plundering of natural resources

to line their pockets

[itsrobert]

2. Contractor: Toad Hoffman

316 (3:16) Mining Company

[snooper2]

4. That stupid fundie couldn't mine shit out of his own ass LOL

[Mz Pip]

3. No surprise here.

If there's one thing Trump likes more than gold it's more gold.

[DFW]

5. I was up in alaska two years ago

All the naturalists were so relieved that this project was probably not going to happen.

Please stop calling these money-crazed raiders "conservative." The LAST thing on their minds is conserving anything.