The Army Corps of Engineers has denied a permit for the Pebble copper and gold mine proposed in southwest Alaska, the agency said today. "USACE determined that the applicant's plan for the discharge of fill material does not comply with Clean Water Act guidelines and concluded that the proposed project is contrary to the public interest," Army Corps Alaska District Commander Col. Damon Delarosa said in a statement. The Army Corps said it has completed the record of decision denying the permit and is preparing to publish it. The controversial mine was proposed upstream from the world's premier sockeye salmon fishery in Bristol Bay. The mine, proposed by the Pebble Limited Partnership, appeared to be sailing toward approval this summer when the Army Corps issued an environmental review that found the project would not have a measurable effect on the salmon fishery. But internal turmoil at the company, political pressure from both sides of the aisle and questions over its wetlands mitigation plan left its future in doubt. Today's rejection spells the end of the project, notwithstanding any legal challenges.
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