The Environmental Protection Agency’s internal watchdog, the Inspector General, announced Monday that it will investigate the agency’s actions surrounding a controversial proposed mining facility in Alaska.
Bristol Bay is one of the top fishing sites in the world, but also contains a wealth of gold, silver and other metals.
A company that wishes to build a mine in the area has been involved in a contentious battle with environmental advocates, fishing companies and several native tribes that live in the area.
But last week, The Washington Times reported that the EPA had been in regular contact with anti-mine advocates, and had taken steps that would seem to allow the agency to veto the project before any sort of environmental impact study had been done.
Concerned about wrongdoing, the mine company, the Alaska state government and several members of Congress asked the IG to open an investigation into whether EPA officials skirted the rules in an attempt to stop the mine before any sort of independent analysis could be finished.
The IG did not give an estimate as to when the investigation might be completed.
SEE ALSO: EXCLUSIVE: Memos show EPA officials tried to kill mine project before scientific review
• Phillip Swarts can be reached at pswarts@washingtontimes.com.
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