You might have it the wrong way around. Taking a purposive approach, the only reason for EPA restrictions for a particular form of mining and a particular resource has to be for environmental impacts, specifically and the EPA is concerned about ambient air, earth & water quality.
The only reason I could imagine they'd object would be if there were negative environmental impacts. Iron ore is exported in massive quantities in other ports, I can't imagine there are ambient concerns.
Happy to be corrected as I haven't looked in detail at the relevant legislation.
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