Alaska and Nebraska are the only states that say they’re actively pursuing taking over the EPA’s dredge-and-fill permitting program for waters and wetlands as the agency prepares to update its rule governing such takeovers.
Fri, 01/22/2021 - 3:39pm
The Dunleavy administration argues the Alaska Statehood Act requires it to challenge the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ denial of a key wetlands permit for the Pebble project.
The state appeal claims that decision was made using an unprecedented evaluation of the project’s environmental impacts.
Acting Attorney General Ed Sniffen signed the state’s 59-page brief on Friday appealing the Corps Alaska District’s November record of decision denying Pebble construction permits. Dunleavy said Jan. 8 the state would appeal the Corps’ decision in a move many opponents of the mine contend directly contradicts the governor’s long standing insistence that he is “neutral” towards Pebble.