POLISCOPE
Back to feed
Part ofEPA
FEDERALhearing transcript
High Impact

Congressional Hearing on EPA Actions Regarding the Pebble Mine

Original title: EXAMINING EPA'S PREDETERMINED EFFORTS TO BLOCK THE PEBBLE MINE

January 1, 2017

Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.

The Frame

What this does

The hearing investigates whether the EPA followed proper regulatory procedures or acted with bias in its oversight of a major proposed mining project in Alaska, which impacts the project's viability and federal environmental policy.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Pebble Limited Partnership

The company is the developer of the proposed mine and is directly impacted by EPA regulatory decisions.

Environmental Protection Agency

The agency is the subject of congressional oversight regarding its regulatory actions on the mine.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2017.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

This document is a transcript of a 2015 House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology hearing. The committee examined allegations that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had predetermined its efforts to block the development of the Pebble Mine in Alaska.

Key Facts

  • The hearing was held on November 5, 2015, by the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
  • The committee investigated claims that the EPA had a 'predetermined' outcome regarding the Pebble Mine project.
  • Witnesses included former Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen, Charles Scheeler of DLA Piper, Pebble Limited Partnership CEO Tom Collier, and former Alaska Senate President Rick Halford.
  • The hearing included two panels of testimony and a question-and-answer session.
  • Additional materials were submitted for the record by Trout Unlimited and committee members.

Why It Matters

The hearing investigates whether the EPA followed proper regulatory procedures or acted with bias in its oversight of a major proposed mining project in Alaska, which impacts the project's viability and federal environmental policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the purpose of this hearing?
The hearing was held to examine allegations that the EPA had already decided to block the Pebble Mine project before completing the necessary regulatory review process.
Who testified at the hearing?
Witnesses included William S. Cohen, Charles Scheeler, Tom Collier, and Rick Halford.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Sponsors

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Congressional Oversight of EPA

The hearing demonstrates the use of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee to challenge EPA regulatory processes regarding large-scale resource extraction.

Connected Entities

personRick HalfordWitness and former Alaska Senate PresidentMap →
personLamar S. SmithChairman of the House Committee on Science, Space, and TechnologyMap →
personTom CollierWitness and CEO of Pebble Limited PartnershipMap →
organizationPebble Limited PartnershipDeveloper of the proposed Pebble MineMap →
personWilliam S. CohenWitness, former Secretary of Defense, and CEO of The Cohen GroupMap →
organizationEnvironmental Protection AgencyFederal agency under investigation regarding the Pebble MineMap →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance75
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy80
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment40
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz20
    Current news / social attention level

Publisher tools

Share or embed this record

POLISCOPE publisher tools

Share or embed this record