In a detailed letter sent to the Inspector General’s General Offices in the Department of Defense and the Army Corps of Engineers, the committee stated that committee members were “concerned that the Army Corps violated the permitted clean water law and (National Environmental Protection Act” ) evaluation process at the expense of an in-depth scientific review. “
The controversial gold and copper mine proposed in Alaska was given significant pressure just two weeks ago when the corps issued a final report concluding that the Pebble Mine project would not cause long-term damage to any of ‘ the largest remaining salmon run in the world.
The Army Corps declined to comment on the letter, citing the ongoing licensing process, saying it would be “invalid” to do so.
“We have received many media surveys and questions from interested parties regarding the content of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). The FEIS is now available for review by any interested party,” said John Budnik, an Army Corps spokesman. . “The Corps’ Record of Decision, when completed, will be a publicly available document.”
The findings in the recent Corps report were a sharp reversal of the conclusions of the Obama-Era Environmental Protection Agency, which essentially advances on the mine block, due to environmental concerns, including the potential for permanent damage to the uneven watershed of Bristol Bay.
Monday’s letter from members of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform states that the corps’ rapid timeline “appears … unfavorable to a hard rock mine of this scale, complexity, and potential regional and state environmental, social and economic impact – especially during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. “
The Oversight Committee’s letter also states that “even more concerned that despite repeated pleas and requests from federal, state, local, and tribal cooperating agencies and stakeholders for a more comprehensive review process, the Army Corps demonstrates a comprehensive institute scientific review in favor of a rapid allowable timeline. “
The recent report by the Army Corps was a great triumph for the developers of the project, illustrating the opposite approach of the Trump administration to the project of that of its predecessor. The decision reflects other environmental changes that the administration has ordered over decisions of the previous administration.
The new Corps report found that the colossal mine and its development “would not be expected to have a measurable effect on fish numbers and result in long-term changes to the health of commercial fisheries in Bristol Bay.”
That found contrasting sharply with the Obama administration’s conclusion. In 2014, after three years of peer-reviewed study by more than 100 scientists, the Obama administration’s EPA called for a rarely used provision of the Clean Water Act to try to protect Bristol Bay after finding that a mine “would result in complete loss of fish habitat due to elimination, dewatering, and fragmentation of streams, wetlands, and other aquatic resources” in some areas of the bay.
“All of these losses would be irreversible,” the agency said at the time.
The watershed and area of Bristol Bay are considered one of the most important salmon fisheries in the world, producing almost half of the world’s annual wild sockeye fishery. The ecological resources also support 4,000-year-old indigenous crops, as well as about 14,000 full-time and part-time jobs, according to the 2014 EPA report.
In reference to a CNN report, the Oversight letter states: “It has been reported that EPA personnel revealed that this decision was made at EPA on June 27, 2019, a day after the president met with Alaska Gov. Mike Dulvaney on Air Force One that raises questions about whether EPA’s decision to withdraw the proposed provision was arbitrary and playful. “
The new letter from the Oversight Committee was signed by New York Democrat Carolyn B. Maloney, chairwoman, and reps. Jackie Speier and Harley Rouda, both Democrats of California.
A spokesman for Pebble, which owns the Canadian company Northern Dynasty Minerals, said the company was not opposed to the investigation.
“We warmly welcome all such reviews – especially one as baseless as this one,” said Pebble spokesman Mike Heatwole.
“The (Corps’) review was thorough and transparent. The review was not shot,” Heatwole added.
On Sunday, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said that if elected, his administration would stop the project.
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