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House science committee critical of EPA's efforts to block Pebble Mine

KDLG 670AM
Published November 5, 2015 at 6:00 PM AKST
US Congress

Findings of the Cohen Report, and a growing paper trail of EPA documents and emails, were the subject of a Thursday committee hearing in Washington, D.C.

The US House Science Committee held a hearing on the Environmental Protection Agency’s efforts to block development of the Pebble Mine Thursday morning in Washington D.C. Witnesses included former Defense Secretary William Cohen, Pebble CEO Tom Collier, and Pebble opponent Rick Halford, a former Alaska state senator. Thursday's hearing came on the heels of a report released by another House committee critical of EPA's process to develop mining restrictions in the Bristol Bay watershed. KDLG’s Dave Bendinger has a recap of some of what was said on Capitol Hill Thursday. 

house_science_hearing_web_part_1.mp3
Listen to the first panel (first half) of Thursday's hearing here...
house_science_hearing_web_part_2.mp3
Listen to Panel Two (part two) from Thursday's hearing here ...

Credit US Congress
Former Def. Sec. William Cohen issued a report critical of the way the EPA has developed proposed 404c restrictions that would block Pebble Mine. He testified about his findings Thursday.
house_science_hearing_web_cohen_statement.mp3
Listen to Sec. Cohen's opening testimony to the House Science committee here...

Credit US Congress
Pebble CEO Tom Collier called EPA's actions "outrageous" and not comparable to anything he has seen in his career. He told the House Science Committee that Pebble should have an opportunity to apply for mine permits through the standard NEPA process.

house_science_hearing_web_collier_statement.mp3
Listen to Pebble CEO Tom Collier's opening testimony here ...

Credit US Congress
Former Alaska state senator Rick Halford spoke on behalf of protecting Bristol Bay and in support of EPA's efforts to do so. He said Pebble's drawn out process is unfair, not the agency's actions done in response to requests from Bristol Bay tribes, fishermen, and residents.

house_science_hearing_web_halford_statement.mp3
Listen to former Alaska senator Rick Halford's opening testimony here ...

Pebble Mine