U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), top Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee, made the following statement regarding the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposal today to use the Clean Water Act (CWA) in order to block the Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay, Alaska.
"EPA's proposal today is an unprecedented attempt to shut down a mining project before it has even reached the permitting stage. EPA's decision firmly demonstrates a commitment to ensuring further business uncertainty and scaring away investment from the United States," said Vitter. "Beyond EPA's ridiculous attempt to expand their authority under the Clean Water Act, today's announcement provides clear evidence that business certainty and job creation are irrelevant to the Obama Administration."
Today's decision follows up on EPA's announcement in February to initiate a Clean Water Act veto process for Pebble Mine.
In March 2014, Vitter and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) introduced the bipartisan Regulatory Fairness Act of 2014, which would prevent EPA from preemptively or retroactively vetoing CWA permits. The Regulatory Fairness Act (S. 2156) is also supported by Sens. Risch, Murkowski, McConnell, Crapo, Enzi, Heller, Barrasso, and Hatch.
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