Company unveils new plan for Alaska mine; critics unmoved
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - The company pursuing a copper and gold mine in southwest Alaska has unveiled plans for what it says will be a smaller, safer project, with plans to move into permitting later this year.
The Pebble Limited Partnership is attempting to reintroduce a project that for years has been the subject of fierce debate because of its location and potential effects on a major salmon fishery in Alaska's Bristol Bay region.
Under the Obama administration, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed restrictions on development. Pebble sued, and the restrictions were never finalized.
As part of a settlement, the EPA under President Donald Trump pledged to initiate a process for withdrawing the proposed restrictions.
Critics of Pebble worry the project being pitched might only be a starting point.