Alaska's attorney general wants a longer public comment period on a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency study of mining impacts in the Bristol Bay region.

Michael Geraghty says the 60-day comment period is inadequate and should be extended to Nov. 20.

In a letter to the agency's regional administrator, Geraghty says closing public comment before the study undergoes peer review and while many Alaskans are engaged in commercial fishing or subsistence activities seems an "unnecessary rush to judgment."

EPA plans to take comment until July 23. It's also holding meetings. One's planned for Monday in Anchorage.

The assessment found that even without failures, there would be effects on fish due to eliminated or blocked streams, removal of wetlands and a loss of fish habitat as water is used for mine operations.