The Environmental Protection Agency has reached a legal settlement with a Canadian company hoping to build a massive gold, copper and molybdenum mine in Alaska’s Bristol Bay watershed, clearing the way for the firm to apply for federal permits.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (CN) — A federal judge said the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency can see records of a mining company's payments to consultants and contractors, but not the company's overall financial records.

A retired government scientist who has been described as elusive and secretive by those backing the proposed Pebble mine is now speaking up in force about why he so opposes the project and what he did to block it.