Eagle Mine Hearings slated

The Mining Journal
By JOHN PEPIN, Journal Staff Writer

Sunday, January 14, 2007

MARQUETTE – Supporters and opponents of a proposed Kennecott Eagle Minerals Company nickel and copper mine on the Yellow Dog Plains in northern Marquette County are looking forward to a series of upcoming public hearings on whether to grant final approval on permits for the project.

This week, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality issued a preliminary decision to grant those permits to Kennecott for the project. The ruling came after a review and evaluation of the permit application, public comment and supplemental information provided.

The DEQ will now hold hearings from 1 to 10 p.m. March 6-8 at the University Center at Northern Michigan University in Marquette.

“The hearing will provide an opportunity for interested persons to submit new information that could influence the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality’s final decision,” the DEQ said in a background report on its decision.

Comments will also be solicited at the hearings on Kennecott’s applications for a groundwater discharge permit, air use permit and a lease from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for the use of state-owned surface property for proposed Kennecott processing and storage facilities.

“Kennecott is pleased that the efforts of our team over the last several years to design the Eagle mine to meet high standards of environmental protection as required by state law have been recognized by the MDEQ’s preliminary determination to approve the permit,” said Kennecott Eagle Manager Jon Cherry.

Kennecott hopes to begin the two-year, $150 million mine construction phase in late 2007. Building the mine and related facilities will require the skills of more than 100 construction workers, expected to be mostly drawn from the local workforce, and will provide at least 300 indirect jobs in the local economy, according to a Kennecott press release.

Mining operations are anticipated to begin in 2009. The Eagle Mine would be a small underground mine. The ore deposit is about six acres. Roughly 90 acres of the 1,600 U.P. acres either owned or leased by Kennecott will be used for surface operations.

‘Eagle’ will be the only primary nickel mine in the U.S., and is expected to produce an estimated 250-300 million pounds of nickel and 200 million pounds of copper over the 8 to 10-year life of the mine.

The Eagle Mine itself is expected to create approximately 120 full-time jobs and over 350 indirect jobs needed to support mine activities.

“We are eagerly looking forward to getting under way with building Eagle, and fulfilling our commitment to the community to contribute positively to its economy, quality of life and future,” Cherry said.

Mining company officials are still discussing some issues related to the project with landowners and others. One example is the subject of transportation routes.

Kennecott has said it will run mine truck traffic over established local routes. But the company is also exploring the possibility of an alternative route from the south of the mine project.

The proposed Kennecott mining project is the first to be subject to Michigan’s new Nonferrous Metallic Mineral Mining rules that were enacted in December 2004.

Numerous opponents against the project want people to know the DEQ’s decision made this week is not final. They are looking forward to the continuation of the process with another opportunity to speak out against the mine.

“People who care about Marquette County cannot sit on the fence any longer. The time to stop this mine and preserve the uniqueness of this area for future generations is now,” said Cynthia Pryor, executive director of the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve.

Paul Townsend, member and immediate past president of the Huron Mountain Club, said he disagreed with the DEQ’s preliminary decision.

“Michigan’s new law requires that the applicant for a mining permit has the burden of establishing that the mining operation will not pollute, impair or destroy the air, water or other natural resources,” Townsend said. “MDEQ’s proposed decision cannot withstand scrutiny under that test.”

Susan LaFernier, president of Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, said her community was ‘very saddened’ by the DEQ’s action this week.

“The Tribal Council has declared that the proposed mine deeply offends the traditional and cultural values of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community,” she said. “Water is a gift of life and is sacred. We do not feel that the environment (air, land, water) is being respected or honored as we have been taught.”

An organized petition drive last fall garnered more than 10,000 signatures in opposition to the mine. Those petitions have since been presented to Governor Jennifer Granholm. Organizers are hoping that those who signed petitions will attend and express their opposition at the upcoming hearings.

Public comments will be accepted by the DEQ on the permit applications until April 5. The DEQ is then expected to render a final decision on the mining permit by May 3.

That date may be extended however, if the DEQ needs additional information from Kennecott based on new questions raised by public comments. Decisions on the other permits will also be issued after the March public hearings.

Story appeared in The Mining Journal.
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