对话文本
A:What's holding us back on the plant expansion project? We were supposed to see the specs on that ages ago.Why haven't I heard anything about it? Did the whole project just vanish into thin air?

B:No, sir. The plant expansion project has been delayed.There was a snag up in the filng process to get the neccessary construction permits.It seems that the property we were slated to build on is also habitat for some endangered indigenous species.

A:You're joking, right? No wonder we've been tied up with this project. I know the environmental impact statement will take forever to get approval if they've found anything endangered on the site. Are they positive there is evidence of endangered species actually living there?

B: The environmental review board has a team on it now.Hopefully we'll know more by the end of the week.
参考翻译
是什么阻止了我们扩大工厂的计划?我们本来很久以前就应该看到任务书了.为什么我没有听到什么消息?整个计划就这么消失得无影无踪了?
没有消失,先生.扩大工厂的计划被推迟了.在申请得到必要的建设许可证的过程中遇到了阻碍.好像是我们要在上面建厂的地产也是当地一些濒危物种的栖息地.
你是在开玩笑吧?难怪我们一直受到阻挠.我知道如果他们那个地方已经找到了濒危物种的话,那环境影响报告就永远也不会被批准.他们肯定有证据来证明那里真的生活着濒危物种吗?
为此,环境调查委员会现在成立了一个调查小组.希望我们能在本周末之前了解更多的信息.
核心词汇
Hold sth/sb back: to prevent the progress or development of somebody/something 妨碍进展
Do you think that mixed ability classes hold back the better students? 你认为把不同能力的学生混合在一起的班级会妨碍较高水平学生的进步吗?

Vanish: to disappear suddenly and/or in a way that you cannot explain (莫名其妙地)突然消失
The magician vanished in a puff of smoke. 魔术师在一股烟雾中突然不见了.
My glasses seem to have vanished. 我的眼镜似乎不翼而飞了.
He seems to have vanished without trace. 他似乎消失得无影无踪.

Snag: a problem or difficulty, especially one that is small, hidden or unexpected (尤指潜在的、意外的、不严重的)问题,困难,障碍,麻烦
There is just one small snag─where is the money coming from? 只有一个小问题 钱从哪儿来?
Let me know if you run into any snags. 要是遇到什么麻烦,就告诉我.

Indigenous: belonging to a particular place rather than coming to it from somewhere else 本地的;当地的;土生土长的
the indigenous peoples/languages of the area 该地区的本地人╱语言
The kangaroo is indigenous to Australia. 袋鼠原产于澳大利亚.