The Trump administration is reviving a controversial Obama administration proposal to block a massive gold mine proposed in Alaska after previously saying it would revive the proposal.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) chief Scott Pruitt announced the surprise reversal late Friday, saying that the EPA now believes that the Pebble Mine project would be unacceptably harmful to Bristol Bay and its tributaries.
Pruitt said he made the call after speaking with various stakeholders involved in the decision, citing serious concerns with the impact from mining and mining waste on the bay.
“We have restored process, reviewed comments, and heard from a variety of stakeholders on whether to withdraw the proposed restrictions in the Bristol Bay watershed,” Pruitt said in a statement.
“Based on that review, it is my judgment at this time that any mining projects in the region likely pose a risk to the abundant natural resources that exist there. Until we know the full extent of that risk, those natural resources and world-class fisheries deserve the utmost protection.”
Seriously I would NEVER have thought that freaking Scott Pruitt would put the brakes on this thing.
I figured that Pruitt carried around an industrial strength condom just so that he could personally rape the land himself.
But I guess this just goes to show you that this Pebble Mine proposal is certain to be an environmental disaster of Biblical proportions.
So bad that even an administration which sees restrictions on development as a personal affront to their capitalist ideals cannot bring themselves to sign off on it.
But,but,but little donnie needs a new gold toilet.
ReplyDeleteHow come they still think drilling in the Artic Refuge is fine?
That is what he is saying today,tomorrow it will be another story,i don't believe a word anyone in this fake administration tells us.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds fishy. Next he'll be giving the Utah lands back to native Americans. No.
ReplyDeleteThis is just a negotiating strategy by Scott Pruitt to get the mining company to give him more money. Once they pay up he will approve the mine.
ReplyDeleteI think the problem is they couldn’t come up with the money to pay him off in the first place. They’re broke and can’t get any investors. So...no pay no play.
DeleteYou are far less cynical than I am, Griff. I believe the current administration is going to back off certain controversial issues until after the 2018 midterm elections. Once they re-secure their majority they'll go to town, destroying the environment for corporate causes. The internet will be micromanaged and we'll pay by the meg for info. Probably overturn Roe v. Wade while they're at it and so on...
ReplyDeleteKnowing this fun bunch, I wouldn't get my hopes up too high.
ReplyDeleteRegardless of what is said, there is an ulterior motive behind every wingnut decision. Check out the reduction of Bear's Ears Monument and uranium interests in Utah.
Or you might look at it another way. With this mafia of a government we have now, maybe the Pebble people didn't want to make the right kickbacks to the right people.
ReplyDeleteThere could be a completely different reason they won't approve it than it's the right thing to do. Follow the money.
reread all of that again.He is no longer for it,but the permit process will continue.It makes no sense,and may be some sort of threat to the company.Maybe they are behind on "donations"
ReplyDeleteIt's all prepared. This way they can say the reconsidered, but people were against the reconsideration.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it is what you say, Graphen. Pruitt gave Florida a reprieve when he said he would exempt their coastline (Mar alLago anyone?!). That opened him to other states to demand exception.
ReplyDeleteFuck Pruitt. If you believe anything he says then I got a bridge for you to buy.
DeleteOT?
ReplyDelete""Facebook and Google effectively control over half of all internet advertising revenue," the 87-year-old told diners during a speech.
"They claim that they are merely distributors of information. The fact that they are near-monopoly distributors makes them public utilities and should subject them to more stringent regulations, aimed at preserving competition, innovation, and fair and open universal access."
He predicted that tech giants would "compromise themselves" to access key markets like China, creating an "alliance between authoritarian states and these large, data rich IT monopolies.""
"he said the cryptocurrency would likely avoid a full crash because authoritarians would still use it to make secret investments abroad.
He described Russia's Vladimir Putin as presiding over a "mafia state" and called Trump a "danger to the world"."
https://crooksandliars.com/2018/01/george-soros-google-and-facebook-your-days?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=idealmedia&utm_campaign=crooksandliars.com&utm_term=68734&utm_content=2181682
Maybe this is what he had to do to get Murkowski's vote on the tax bill.
ReplyDeleteWow. That is a surprise. I wonder who has dirt on who to leverage that kind of pressure. You’d think the mine owners would have more than the environmentalists but maybe not.
ReplyDeleteI heard Pebble Mine lost it’s investors and can’t find anyone else to put up money because it is a losing proposition.