Northern Dynasty reports two Alaska Native Village corporations sue EPA

Northern Dynasty reported that Iliamna Natives Limited, or INL, and Alaska Peninsula Corporation, or APC, two Alaska Native Village corporations representing communities closest to the Pebble Project, have filed suit against the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, for exceeding its authority with the veto action against Pebble. John Shively, CEO of the Company’s 100%-owned U.S.-based subsidiary Pebble Limited Partnership made the following statement regarding the action: “The jobs, economic activity and revenue from Pebble would bring significant positive benefits to the communities closest to us, as represented by INL and APC in this lawsuit. From the beginning, the EPA has given little weight to the views expressed by these communities because it did not fit their predetermined narrative against the project. The ‘No Pebble’ scenario for the communities represented by these two village corporations is one in which there is continued outmigration, increased already-higher-than-average cost of living, and lack of opportunities. A desire to change this trajectory and find good jobs for their shareholders is a key underpinning of the litigation filed today. It is ultimately about opportunity and hope. We have local support for the project, and the Final Environmental Impact Statement for Pebble, as published by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, describes in detail the potential for many benefits from Pebble including employment, reduction in the cost of living, and significant local tax revenues. It further documents how local fishing permits continue to migrate to non-Alaskans and a high percentage of commercial fishing jobs are held by non-residents. Those who oppose Pebble have not provided any alternative that would improve the economy of this area. These two Native Village Corporations understand that the EPA and our opposition care little about their future.”