Alaska Public Media by Alexandra Gutierrez.  The latest version of a bill advancing a natural gas megaproject restores language concerning collective bargaining.  The Senate Finance Co-Chair Pete Kelly announced on Tuesday evening that the committee will scrap the less specific language they had planned to use when dealing with labor terms.


Commentary: The following post by the Pebble Project precisely reflects the editorial position we have taken for several years.  

We would add that the White House has no business lecturing Russia and other nations on the importance of respecting "rule of law" when it has taken large steps in the last five years to diminish the American "rule of law" set forth by our founders.

Other examples of Obama Administration of "rule of law" violations include "Fast and Furious", "Uninforced immigration laws", "Unpunished IRS illegal targeting", "Uninforced voter intimidation", "Unpunished Violation of 1st Amendment (i.e. Fox News and AP)", "Illegal changes by fiat in Affordable Care Act to delay deadlines and exempt special interests from enforcement", etc.  

Even if we did not 'support' the Pebble Project, we should be both offended and fearful that EPA's violation of the First Amendment to the Constitution and to the permitting process in this case allows EPA and its environmental activist allies to stop any project anywhere at any time without regard to due process.  

Is this the America we were brought up to love, respect and defend with our lives, fortunes and sacred honor?  -dh

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On February 28, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy short-circuited the established National Environmental Permitting Act (NEPA) process rather than allowing the Pebble Partnership to design and submit an actual mine development proposal and have it fairly and objectively evaluated. EPA is potentially preparing to preclude Pebble development without ever seeing a proposed mine plan.

The NEPA process has been sufficient to evaluate and advance major Alaska resource development initiatives since its inception in 1970. Alaskans are familiar with NEPA and are confident that it works. The possibility of EPA preemptively vetoing projects before they’re even presented has many Alaskans thinking and talking about it:

David Wight, past president of the Alyeska Pipeline Service Co, is frank in his ADN editorial: “EPA choose wrong process to vet Pebble.”

Lorene Anelon, president of Iliamna Natives Limited, argues in favor of a return to NEPA in theBristol Bay Times, stating that “EPA action on Pebble fails to consider people of region.”

And the editorial staff of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner calls it a clear case of the agency overreaching, declaring “EPA goes too far on Pebble mine.”

 

There’s still time

EPA hasn’t issued any regulatory decision about the Pebble Project yet. The process announced by EPA Administrator McCarthy late last month began a series of steps that is still being sorted out. Alaskans who favor a predictable, reliable permitting process—one that allows responsible resource development to continue serving as a major driver of Alaska’s economy—should read these and other editorial perspectives, and stay tuned for ways to make their voices heard.

 

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