irs. trays gallagher has more from the west coast bureau. trace? >> megyn, the missing e-mails involve a controversial project to mine for copper and gold in alaska and critics say it will damage the salmon population and supporters say it will provide much needed job and current mining techniques will limit the effects on the environment. a former e.p.a. employee in alaska was working to kill the project as far back as 2008. it's being investigated whether mr. north and other government officials were in cahoots with alaska tribal leaders and environmental groups and that when the epa ultimately vetoed pebble mine it did so because of undue influence, not sound science. the committee has been trying for months to speak with philip north because he retired, hired a lawyer and went awol. at last check he was somewhere in new zealand refusing to cooperate and now they can't