[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 19 (Thursday, January 29, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 4917]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-01701]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-R10-OW-2014-0505; FRL-9922-23-Region-10]


Notice of Status Update on the Proposed Determination for the 
Pebble Deposit Area, Southwest Alaska

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of status update.

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SUMMARY: On July 21, 2014, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA) published in the Federal Register a Notice of Proposed 
Determination, under Section 404(c) of the Clean Water Act, to restrict 
the use of certain waters in the South Fork Koktuli River, North Fork 
Koktuli River, and Upper Talarik Creek watersheds in Southwest Alaska 
as disposal sites for dredged or fill material associated with mining 
the Pebble deposit, a copper-, gold-, and molybdenum-bearing ore body. 
On September 19, 2014, EPA published in the Federal Register a notice 
extending the time period to either withdraw the Proposed Determination 
or to prepare the Recommended Determination until no later than 
February 4, 2015. As part of ongoing litigation brought by the Pebble 
Limited Partnership, on November 25, 2014, a Federal District Court 
Judge issued a preliminary injunction that requires EPA to stop all 
work connected to the 404(c) proceeding, including reviewing and 
considering public comments. EPA is complying with the court's order 
and as such is not taking any steps to withdraw the Proposed 
Determination or to prepare a Recommended Determination while the 
preliminary injunction is in place.

    Dated: January 21, 2015.
Dennis J. McLerran,
Regional Administrator, EPA Region 10.
[FR Doc. 2015-01701 Filed 1-28-15; 8:45 am]
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