IG May Probe Trump Administration Promotion Of Pebble Mine

"A Defense Department and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) watchdog will consider probing the Trump administration’s moves to advance the proposed Pebble Mine in Alaska following congressional requests on Monday.

House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) and Reps. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) and Harley Rouda (D-Calif.) wrote to Defense Department Inspector General Sean O’Donnell, who also serves as an EPA watchdog, and Army Inspector General Leslie Smith asking for an investigation into a recent assessment finding that the proposed mine would not have a significant impact on a nearby salmon fishery.

They also wrote to O’Donnell at the EPA asking him to look into that agency’s reversal of an Obama administration determination to preemptively veto the Pebble Mine."

Rachel Frazin reports for The Hill August 10, 2020.

Source: The Hill, 08/11/2020