Parnell Bashes Environmental Protection Agency

Continues drumbeat on federal overreach

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By Bill McAllister
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Story Created: May 22, 2012 at 7:43 PM AKDT

Story Updated: May 23, 2012 at 8:01 AM AKDT

ALASKA - Is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency overstepping its authority?

Governor Sean Parnell says that’s part of the overall problem of “federal overreach.”

On Tuesday Parnell and an oil and gas industry group praised an Idaho couple who won a five-year battle with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that went to the U.S. Supreme Court.

And the governor says he might sue the agency over what he sees as the EPA's premature involvement with the proposed Pebble Mine.

Mike and Chantell Sackett of Idaho recently won a Supreme Court case against EPA, saying they could challenge an order about wetlands protection on their property.

They told the Resource Development Council they're grateful the State of Alaska filed a brief in the case.

“Basically, it takes one EPA employee - that's what we had - one EPA employee that walked on that property, uninvited, with no credentials, and had no evidence that that property was a wetlands, and with that opinion, and her opinion only, she turned our life into a five-year nightmare," said Mike Sackett.

"The Sackett case is an example of all us working together to protect all our individual rights - rights that a heavy-handed government would trample, whether you're from Idaho, Alaska or any other state,” Parnell said. “That's why we joined in as a state."

Last Friday the EPA released an assessment of the Bristol Bay watershed warning that a large-scale mining project such as Pebble would destroy salmon streams and wetlands.

"They normally get involved in a project when there's actually a permit process under way with an environmental impact statement going on,” the governor said. “And so once again, I see the assessment as stepping into the state's business before they actually have authority to do so."

John Shively, president of The Pebble Partnership, said EPA’s assessment was rushed.

"We've been working on a small part of those watersheds for eight years, we spent $120 million and we're not done, and they get through in less than a year. It doesn't make any sense."

But while the governor and others say the EPA is interfering with the state of Alaska, some people say they're actually defending the rights of people in the region where the copper and gold mine would be developed.

Says former state Senate President Rick Halford: "This is not something generated by EPA reaching into Alaska. This is EPA coming to the aid of local people who are frustrated over eight years of inaction and failed enforcement by the state."

Whether overreaching or just reaching, the EPA already is far into the Pebble Mine controversy.
 

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lawdog said on Friday, May 25 at 2:38 PM

well the feds are finally looking at the SOA for doing just that - bullying too many folks for too long and all in the name of what? profit? that is ungodly Captain Crunch - now crunch the number of years you and your Palin posse get for crimes?

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crowd control said on Wednesday, May 23 at 9:54 PM

folks they stepped off the deep end long ago. now they are circling those they think "THREATEN" them. Hollis French is aware of this behavior, reasons they are correcting the situation. Thank God. Had to leave the crew long ago when they went rancid...

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flicker said on Wednesday, May 23 at 8:56 PM

Parnell and Palin seem to think they can do anything they want...for God's Will...and it's not illegal or unethical...fast forward to current Captain Zero with this deal...impeach Parnell...he is doing illegal activity with funds of a private citizen...

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Remember now said on Wednesday, May 23 at 3:30 PM

Choose Respect...oh wait what was I thinking...

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flicker said on Wednesday, May 23 at 8:25 AM

Why is the governor of Alaska involving himself and presumably Alaska state resources in an issue in another state to suit his political agenda? Impeach Parnell!

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Anonymous said on Wednesday, May 23 at 1:43 AM

what a whiner...what's the matter...that fed probe getting in the way of profits for oil buddies?

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Straight ForwardI said on Wednesday, May 23 at 12:38 AM

If EPA's statement that 2 parts per Billion of copper will kill all the salmon than why is there salmon , infact world renound an sought after in the Copper River and its tributearies. The richest copper mine was found up this river and the fish are still here without the help of the EPA. Flat out EPA is LIEING to you . study your history the proof is out there. VOTE NO ON THE EPA THEY LIE

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peter said on Tuesday, May 22 at 11:01 PM

Every single mine of this type has created pollution that had negatively impacted the water quality and other facets of the environment.Add to the fact that it is owned by a foreign mulitnational corporation with limited liability, and the adminsitration's (read parnell)fervent goal of helping get this mine into production shouts caution to me. But what the heck, they'll do exactly what the money tells them to do, as will all other professional politicians in bed with big industry.

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Sure said on Tuesday, May 22 at 10:33 PM

Disgruntled, prove it.

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Disgruntled said on Tuesday, May 22 at 9:46 PM

The fight is going to be tremendous if Pebble Mine is approved to go forward. The destruction to water and fish will be a constant battle. If that's your drinking water source, that is not going to be good. Mining for gold is the dirtiest business in the world. Mercury is used and injesting it, even at minuscule levels, is dangerous. If there is a tailings pond, that won't go away, it'll stay in the area until the end of the world. Once the ore is depleted, the waste will still be in the area and still will have to be maintained. Is the company going to continue to expend on it for treatment once they are done mining? Probably not. There will still be run off. The people and their descendents in the area will inherit the problem. That's what it will amount to. Good luck!

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Big Dan said on Tuesday, May 22 at 8:30 PM

Just say NO Pebble mine. Is 50 to 100 jobs that will be gone in 25 years worth ruining the best salmon runs in the world?

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