A former mining client of President Trump’s Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and top campaign fundraiser Brian Ballard is on the verge of securing a major win from the Trump administration.
The developer behind the proposed Pebble Mine in southwest Alaska, one of the most controversial mining projects in the country, is in talks with the Environmental Protection Agency to reverse a veto that has blocked the mine since 2023. According to recent court filings, Justice Department lawyers said that the EPA is “open to reconsideration” of the veto and that officials “have been actively considering the agency decisions.” The filing, submitted in response to a lawsuit brought by Pebble’s developer, said the parties are negotiating a potential settlement. Northern Dynasty Minerals, the Canadian company behind the project, said in a court document that it expects an agreement as soon as July 17.
