Why It Matters: The Department of Justice’s February 17 court brief defending the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) veto of the proposed Pebble Mine reinforces long-standing protections for one of America’s most important hunting and fishing landscapes – the Bristol Bay watershed. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) applauds the Trump Administration for reaffirming that clean water, healthy fish and wildlife habitat, and sustainable outdoor traditions remain a national priority.
Highlights
- The Department of Justice recently defended the EPA’s 2023 Clean Water Act veto of the proposed Pebble Mine as lawful, science-based, and necessary to protect irreplaceable fisheries and wildlife habitat.
- The brief echoes the unified position of hunters, anglers, and conservation-minded businesses and local communities that Bristol Bay is a national treasure worth safeguarding for future generations.
On February 17, the Department of Justice filed a court brief defending the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2023 veto of the proposed Pebble Mine. The brief underscores that the EPA acted squarely within its Clean Water Act authority to prevent unacceptable risks to fisheries and watersheds, reaffirming that the federal government can act decisively when America’s most valuable fish and wildlife resources are at stake.
For hunters and anglers, the Department of Justice’s defense is a clear win. The EPA veto protects the headwaters that sustain the world-class sockeye salmon fishery in Bristol Bay, a place synonymous with healthy runs, thriving wildlife, and unparalleled hunting and fishing opportunities. By standing behind the veto, the Trump Administration reinforced the principle that large-scale, high-risk mining proposals should not jeopardize landscapes that support recreational access, subsistence traditions, and thousands of American jobs tied to fishing and outdoor recreation.
This decision by the Department of Justice builds upon the momentum generated during the first Trump Administration to conserve Bristol Bay and one of the last remaining great salmon fisheries. In 2020, the Army Corps of Engineers determined that the proposed Pebble Mine could not be permitted as proposed, as it would cause significant impacts to the Bristol Bay watershed.
In September, CSF and several organizations representing hunters and anglers sent a letter to President Trump thanking him for defending Bristol Bay and the nation’s outdoor heritage. While the court brief is yet one more step in the ongoing litigation to permit the mine, CSF is grateful that the Administration continues to stand with the nation’s sportsmen and women by conserving the iconic resource that is Bristol Bay.
