Gina McCarthy, the new leader of the Environmental Protection Agency, visited the site of the controversial Pebble Mine in Alaska on Tuesday.

McCarthy, who took office last month, faces pressure from tribes and Alaska Native corporations to reject the mine. It would be located near two rivers that produce nearly a quarter of the world’s sockeye salmon harvest. Think Progress reported.

"I think its important for the administrator to listen to people and any federal agency in particular," Bristol Bay Native Corporation CEO and President Jason Metrokin, who opposes the mine, told KTUU-TV. "[They] need to hear directly from the people."

The Pebble Partnership says the mine will bring jobs to Native villages and to the region.

Get the Story:
EPA Administrator Visits Proposed Pebble Mine Site (KTUU 8/27)
On Alaska Listening Tour, EPA Administrator Gets An Earful From Both Sides Of The Pebble Mine Debate (Think Progress 8/27)
Alaska Pebble Mine: What’s Interesting About EPA Chief Gina McCarthy’s August Visit (International Business Times 8/27)
EPA chief McCarthy in Alaska, emphasizes climate change (McClatchy Newspapers 8/26)

An Opinion:
Jason Metrokin: EPA can and should block Pebble mine (The Anchorage Daily News 8/24)

Related Stories:
New leader of EPA considers trip to Pebble Mine site in Alaska (8/2)
Opinion: Pebble Mine brings development to Native villages (07/22)
Callan J. Chythlook-Sifsof: Native subsistence under threat (06/28)
Opinion: Alaska Natives seek an extension on EPA assessment (08/08)
Kim Williams: Alaska hypocritical as Natives fight mining project (06/11)
Editorial: Vote against Pebble Mine won't settle the debate (10/19)
John Adcox: Native corporation ignores people on Pebble Mine (10/04)
Jason Metrokin: Alaska Native corporation against Pebble Mine (09/26)