U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), top Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee, made the following statement regarding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) announcement to initiate a Clean Water Act (CWA) section 404(c) veto process for the Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay, Alaska. Today's action continues EPA's attempt to predetermine the fate of the Pebble Mine before proponents have even applied for a federal environmental permit.

"Talk about a disincentive to invest in America, we are seeing EPA resort to a ridiculous level of allowing political prejudices determine how the Agency handles permitting," said Vitter. "When it comes to the Pebble Mine, EPA has shown that they are willing to disregard due process and lawfully established permitting procedures to ensure the failure of any project like this. EPA's desperate attempt to kill a potential mine should signal a major red flag to businesses."

Today, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy issued an unprecedented request to preemptively initiate CWA Section 404(c) veto proceedings for the proposed Pebble Mine project, despite the fact that no company has applied for a CWA permit.

 

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