Biden administration moves to protect key Alaska watershed

Northern Dynasty Minerals

09/09/2021 18:00

By Valerie Volcovici
    WASHINGTON, Sept 9 (Reuters) - The Biden administration said
on Thursday it will relaunch a process that could permanently
protect a vital Alaskan watershed from the development of the
contentious Pebble Mine project https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-alaska-pebblemine/u-s-rejects-permit-for-alaskas-pebble-mine-company-vows-appeal-idUSKBN2852XM
 that has been pursued for more than a decade.
    The Department of Justice asked in an Alaska federal
district court filing on Thursday that the court vacate a 2019
decision by the Trump-era Environmental Protection Agency to
remove protection of the Bristol Bay watershed, home of one of
North America's biggest sockeye salmon fisheries.  
    If the court grants the request, it would automatically
reinstate the EPA’s Clean Water Act Section 404 review process,
which would enable the agency to resume an effort to protect
certain waters in the Bristol Bay watershed. 
    "The Bristol Bay Watershed is an Alaskan treasure that
underscores the critical value of clean water in America," said
EPA Administrator Michael Regan. "What’s at stake is preventing
pollution that would disproportionately impact Alaska Natives,
and protecting a sustainable future for the most productive
salmon fishery in North America."    
    In July 2019, the Trump administration EPA withdrew a
proposed Clean Water Act Section 404(c) "proposed determination"
from 2014 that, if finalized, could have permanently prevented
development of the open-pit gold and copper Pebble Mine. 
    But the Army Corps of Engineers under former President
Donald Trump denied a key permit for the mine in November 2020
amid opposition to the mining project by Alaska's Republican
U.S. senators and by Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr, who had
lobbied to protect the area's fishing and hunting resources.
    The Pebble Limited Partnership, whose parent company is
Canadian mining company Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd  NDM.TO  ,
which has been pursuing the mining project, had challenged the
Army Corps’ decision in the courts. 
    The Bristol Bay's streams, wetlands, lakes and ponds are
home to North America's most productive salmon fisheries of five
types of salmon: coho, Chinook, sockeye, chum and pink.  



 (Reporting by Valerie Volcovici in Washington
Editing by Matthew Lewis)
 ((valerie.volcovici@thomsonreuters.com;))