The Pebble Partnership has dropped many of its subpoenas to individuals and organizations it believes may have communicated with the Environmental Protection Agency regarding protections for the Bristol Bay watershed as part of Pebble’s lawsuit alleging the agency acted improperly.

A federal judge has ruled that Pebble mine developers have no right to force opposing environmental and fishing groups to turn over years of records or to require testimony by two individuals fighting the massive proposed mine.

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - A federal judge on Thursday decided to allow portions of a lawsuit brought against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency by the group behind the Pebble Mine project to proceed.

A federal judge is scheduled to hear arguments Thursday in a case alleging that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency worked with critics of the proposed Pebble mine with a predetermined goal to block the project.