http://www.startribune.com/...
According to multiple sites, the EPA is planning to impose restrictions on Pebble Mine as part of section 404C of the Clean Water Act, that will, basically, kill the mine. As readers who have read my diaries on Pebble and on Alaska as part of my national park series, I firmly believe Bristol Bay should be a national monument, so that a project like Pebble can never be attempted in the region again. Since most of the lands around the bay itself are federal, that would make the monument a massive one, likely over 10 million acres, when the submerged lands and waters of the bay are included. protecting the salmon requires that the bay itself, and its watershed be withdrawn permanently from mining and oil drilling. While the Bay itself is withdrawn from oil and gas until 2017, that withdrawal should be made permanent.
http://www.startribune.com/...
According to multiple sites, the EPA is planning to impose restrictions on Pebble Mine as part of section 404C of the Clean Water Act, that will, basically, kill the mine. As readers who have read my diaries on Pebble and on Alaska as part of my national park series, I firmly believe Bristol Bay should be a national monument, so that a project like Pebble can never be attempted in the region again. Since most of the lands around the bay itself are federal, that would make the monument a massive one, likely over 10 million acres, when the submerged lands and waters of the bay are included. protecting the salmon requires that the bay itself, and its watershed be withdrawn permanently from mining and oil drilling. While the Bay itself is withdrawn from oil and gas until 2017, that withdrawal should be made permanent. currently, the president can only create monuments of 5000 acres, without Congress' ok, in Alaska- a restriction that is both unnecessary-- Congress can already defund or abolish monuments it doesnt like- and superfluous- Congress already has the sole authority to declare wilderness areas or national parks. This action by the EPA is a welcome one, and an expected one. Northern Dynasty will try to sue to block the EPA from using its power, and its allies in Congress will try and overrule the EPA- but thats a thin reed. Obama will veto any bill that tries to force the approval of Pebble, and it wont get through the Senate anyway as long as the Dems control it- which imo, its looking more and more likely that they will retain the Senate in November.