The Canary in the Pebble Mine

Wall Street Journal Editorial Page ^ | May 31, 2022 | Editorial Board - WSJ Opinion Page

[Wuli]

Politicians are demanding that the U.S. become more self-sufficient in crucial metals and minerals, but then they block domestic mining at every opportunity. Alaska’s Pebble Mine project is the latest to join the casualty list.

The Pebble site holds an estimated $300 billion to $500 billion in mineral resources and could be one of the world’s largest suppliers of copper and gold. Electric cars as well as wind and solar power require enormous amounts of copper. Investors have invested nearly $1 billion on exploration, engineering and studies to meet regulatory demands.

Yet last week the Biden Environmental Protection Agency issued a determination under the Clean Water Act that would ban disposal of mining waste within 308 square miles of the Pebble site, regardless of whether it poses an environmental risk. This could be a fatal blow to the mine.

The political assault on the project began when the Obama EPA pre-emptively vetoed it before the government even did an environmental review. The Trump EPA later let the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers do an environmental analysis, and in July 2020 the Corps found the mine would have “no measurable effect” on local fish populations. But then Donald Trump Jr. came out against the mine, and a few weeks after the November election the Corps rejected Pebble’s permit.

[Wuli]

Biden wants to sink U.S. dependency on foreign sourced energy and minerals, to level the playing field with Europe. When costs for everything become as high in the U.S. as they are in Europe the Dims will seek greater federal taxes and subsidies on everything, both of which will be tied to socialist politics and policies.

[teeman8r]

it has never been about the environment... but control.

[mewzilla]

BiteMe wants pudding.

This is Deep State’s doing.

Why blame their pi$$ boy?

[genghis]

Everyday more terrible regulations that decrease our wealth

[marktwain]

Yes. I remember thinking that in 1980. EPA required an enviromnmental impact statement for a mall.

Because it impacted the downtown retailers.

That gave them the authority to regulate the entire US economy, which they have been doing.

[PeteyBoy]

But what’s up with DJT Jr.?

Trumps kids are hurting him.

[AAABEST]

That struck me too.

How was HE involved?

[Species8472]

Got to keep the natives poor and dependent!

[vpintheak]

The enviroweenies and even some outdoorsman colluded to stop this mine. They call it “A place that’s always been”
What a crock. Pebble mine would have been so good for so many people. 😡

[Chuckster]

True, there is a lot of money to be made on the Pebble Mine project.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Say goodbye to Southeast Alaska’s fishing industry and get used to eating farmed fish raised on sewage. Yummmmm...

Oh well. The food supply is mostly poisoned anyway.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Besides. There is a sh!tload of money to be made!
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[ridesthemiles]

When we no longer have ‘fossil fuels’-—How will plumbing be done?

NO MORE PVC-—And copper mining isn’t happening—and copper products are not being made.