Internal memos reveal EPA worked behind the scenes to kill Alaska mine project

Of course they did! It doesn't take a scientific review to determine that it's a bad idea to put a giant open pit copper mine on top of the world's greatest sockeye fishery.

The EPA just needs to kill Pebble and shut up Fox News, the Washington Times, Darrel Issa, David Vitter and Northern Dynasty once and for all.

In a statement Thursday, the EPA said the emails in question were "authored by a low level staffer stationed in Alaska who had no decision making authority for the Agency.

"Additionally, the focus should be on what the agency has actually done which is taking a deliberative approach based on the science. In fact, the agency leadership had not made a decision on whether to proceed to 404(c) action until the scientific analysis was complete," the EPA said.

LINK (via: Fox Faux News)

So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish

NRDC just ran this full-page ad in the London Financial Times.

Rio Tinto Pulls Out

Strong financials? 

Back in December global mining giant Rio Tinto said it was reviewing its investment in the Pebble Mine project. 

Yesterday they announced they are divesting themselves of their 19 percent stake in the project and donating it to the Alaska Community Foundation and the Bristol Bay Native Corporation Education Foundation.

LINK (via:The Washington Post)

And now a message from Northern Dynasty CEO Ron Thiessen on how to polish a turd.

"EPA's preemptive use of Clean Water Act section 404(c) are unprecedented"

It ain't over until the fat lady sings.

Serial douche bag Representative Darrel Issa is calling for an investigation into the EPA and the Pebble Mine

"EPA's actions regarding the preemptive use of Clean Water Act section 404(c) are unprecedented and appear to rest upon an evaluation written with a predetermined conclusion of invoking a preemptive 404(c) veto of the Pebble Project," said Issa, along with Energy Policy, Health Care and Entitlements Subcommittee Chairman James Lankford, R-Okla., and Economic Growth, Job Creation and Regulatory Affairs Subcommittee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, in a letter.

LINK (via:The Washington Examiner)

Rise up against federal over-reach

That's the headline from Alaska Senate Majority leader Sen. John Coghill's editorial bemoaning the EPA's decision to temporarily block permitting of the Pebble Mine.

He goes on to say.....

It is now election season, a time when we have the opportunity to mobilize Alaskans who will not cede state power to an over-dominating federal government or a large multinational environmental industry.

Nothing in there about ceding the world's greatest sockeye run to a large multinational mining industry.

LINK (via: Newsminer)

Whistling past the graveyard

Northern Dynasty has issued a response to the EPA's Pebble Mine announcement.

More bad news for NAK.

Northern Dynasty shares fell 32% on yesterday's news that the EPA is taking initial steps toward restricting or even prohibiting development of the proposed mine.

As expected the pro Pebble forces are crying foul over the EPA's decision.

There is even talk of legal action from the mine's supporters, as the industry has contested whether EPA can reject the necessary permit.

Mine supporters say that the EPA action is illegal because it is working with a "hypothetical" mine scenario.

LINK (via:The Washington Examiner)