In the news today…
EPA:
- E&E Greenwire reports the EPA’s Office of the Inspector General did not review allegations against Scott Pruitt for failing to keep track of records or properly respond to Freedom of Information Act requests.
- Politico Pro reports EPA asked a federal court to put legal challenges to its ACE rule on a fast track, a move that could see the case receive a ruling by the end of 2020.
- Politico Pro and E&E Greenwire report a federal court upheld EPA’s delay of compliance deadlines for parts of an Obama administration rule that limited discharged water pollution from coal-fired power plants.
Mining:
- E&E Greenwire reports the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has suspended the permit it issued to the Rosemont Copper project in Arizona.
- E&E Greenwire and Mining.com report BLM has approved a mining project allowing Crystal Peak Minerals to extract potash in Utah.
Minerals:
- Mining.com reports Excelsior Mining completed a pipeline corridor at its copper project in Arizona, which means the company is on track to deliver its first copper production in Q4 2019.
- Mining.com reports cobalt and lithium prices have dropped to the lowest point in more than two years, driven by short-term oversupply and negatively affecting investments.
Coal:
- Energy News Network reports FirstEnergy Solutions retained the law firm arguing that HB6, the bill providing subsidies for nuclear and coal plants in Ohio, is exempt from state referendum procedures.
- The Columbus Dispatch reports there is little to no evidence of a connection between China and attempts to repeal HB6 in Ohio, despite a TV ad which suggests otherwise.
- S&P Global reports many insurers hold significant investments in companies that depend on coal as a source of revenue.
- WMBD reports plans to close four of Vistra Energy’s coal power plants in Illinois will cost local governments millions of dollars in tax revenue.
- The State reports Santee Cooper plans to shut down one of its two remaining coal-fired power stations in the next decade and cut about 200 jobs as the state-owned utility moves to eliminate coal as an energy source altogether.
- The Gillette News Record reports Blackjewel says negotiations between Contura Energy and the federal government continue and that wording from Tuesday afternoon that the deal “is dead” was “unfortunate.”
World News:
- Bloomberg Businessweek reports Greenland’s mineral wealth makes it a treasure trove which full independence might open up to the economy of Greenland.