60 days' notice of EPA plans for Pebble Mine not needed, judge rules

JUNEAU, Alaska – A federal judge says the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency does not have to give the group behind the proposed Pebble Mine 60 days' advance notice of any further action it might take with regard to the project.

The Pebble Limited Partnership has sued EPA, alleging it exceeded its authority by invoking a process through which it could restrict or prohibit development of the Pebble deposit before the project goes through permitting.

Pebble requested the advance notice after EPA proposed restrictions on development.

While U.S. District Court Judge H. Russel Holland declined to require 60 days' notice of the next step EPA plans to take, he said he expects attorneys to keep each other and the court informed on matters likely to affect scheduling in the case.