vancouver small canadian miner confident donald trump u.s. presidential win let proceed application copper gold mine alaska stall almost three years environmental regulators aim protect world big sockeye salmon fishery ronald thiessen chief executive officer president northern dynasty minerals ltd say expect u.s. environmental protection agency announce first quarter 2017 let application process proceed controversial project say company hold discussions trump transition team include myron ebell head epa transition share northern dynasty own massive pebble deposit southwest alaska bristol bay region double since u.s. election nov. 8. share surge 23 percent nov. alone february 2014 epa take unusual action block mine project owner apply development permit company estimate remove pre-emptive veto could happen three four months epa announcement would allow northern dynasty seek deep-pocketed partner resume permit project one world big undeveloped copper gold deposit trump take office jan. 20. trump staff respond email request comment accord epa bristol bay watershed support world large fishery sockeye salmon environmental group oppose mine many native residents rely fish subsistence food many commercial fishermen sport fishermen also oppose last year u.s. president barack obama use trip area try cement environmental legacy overturn epa veto would potent symbol trump make good promise remove regulations stop expansion drill mine one stun project world giant bull s-eye back nobody want get fight government thiessen say interview northern dynasty launch legal action epa may 2014. october two side agree mediation try end dispute northern dynasty want partner replace anglo american plc spend 500 million project pull 2013 gold copper price fell two months epa 2014 veto another global miner rio tinto time northern dynasty big investor say would give 19.1 percent stake charity prospect revive project big long-life gold copper deposit increasingly hard find large gold copper mine company go look pebble project say chris mancini research analyst gabelli fund own share northern dynasty copper miners u.s.-based freeport-mcmoran canada teck resources might take look project independent mine analyst john tumazos say freeport teck decline comment rally copper price since late october also help make project valuable yet opponents remain determine stop pebble alaska governor bill walker say skeptical project northern dynasty excite trump take office know crystal ball show say kimberly williams director nunamta aulukestai non-profit group tribal governments village corporations bristol bay area people area still overwhelm oppose project trump win ignite hope stall alaska copper gold mine