U.S. Army Corps extends Pebble project comment period after concerns from senators

The federal government has agreed to extend a public comment period on the controversial Pebble project after Alaska’s U.S. senators raised concerns that people needed more time to consider its possible impacts on the Bristol Bay region.

The extension will add 30 days to the 90-day period, pushing the deadline to June 29, according to a Friday announcement from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Alaska.

The Pebble Limited Partnership, the proposed developer of the copper and gold mine that would straddle salmon-producing headwaters, has applied for a key permit from the Corps to discharge rocks and other fill material into U.S. waters.

The Corps released a 1,400-page draft analysis of the mine’s potential impact in the region, a document that will lead to a final report and decision ranging from the selection of a development scenario to denial of a permit. Public comments are expected to help shape the final decision.

Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan have shared concerns with Corps leadership that the comment period was insufficient.

Information about submitting comments can be found at pebbleprojecteis.com.

About 8,400 public comments have been uploaded to the website, the Corps said.