EPA taking comments on lifting proposed mine restrictions

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has taken the first step toward reversing its proposed restrictions on large-scale mining near the headwaters of a major salmon fishery in southwest Alaska.
As part of a legal settlement reached in May with the Pebble Limited Partnership, the EPA pledged to initiate a process for withdrawing the proposed restrictions.
EPA announced Tuesday that it would hold a 90-day comment period on the intended withdrawal.
The agency also sa