JUNEAU — Attorneys plan to seek mediation in a lawsuit between the group behind the proposed Pebble Mine and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
In a court filing Thursday, attorneys for the Pebble Limited Partnership said the parties would seek mediation.
A recent request by both sides to extend the discovery period in the case by five months is still pending. A status conference is scheduled for Friday.
Pebble spokesman Mike Heatwole said by email that Pebble is hopeful of resolving the matter out of court.
Pebble has alleged that EPA was in cahoots with anti-mine activists with a predetermined goal to block the project.
Lawyers for the EPA have argued that the lawsuit is a bid to undermine the agency’s proposal to protect parts of the Bristol Bay region from development.