EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler has formally recused himself from the ongoing Pebble Mine permitting process, according to an agency letter dated March 20 and obtained by Bloomberg Environment.
Wheeler’s decision comes as a disappointment to backers of the planned gold, copper, and molybdenum deposit, who hoped he would intervene to lift Obama-era Clean Water Act restrictions on the Alaska mine’s construction.
The Environmental Protection Agency could still attempt to lift the restrictions. Wheeler has delegated Pebble issues to EPA General Counsel Matthew Z. Leopold.
In his internal memo to EPA staff, Wheeler indicated ...
Learn more about Bloomberg Law or Log In to keep reading:
Learn About Bloomberg Law
AI-powered legal analytics, workflow tools and premium legal & business news.
Already a subscriber?
Log in to keep reading or access research tools.