MARQUETTE — Local environmental group Save the Wild U.P. (SWUP) is collaborating with the Menominee River Front 40 group, regional environmentalists, Menominee tribal leaders, archaeologists and mining experts to hold an informational forum on Aquila Resources’ Back Forty mine permit application. The forum will be held in the Shiras Room of the Peter White Public Library in Marquette on Wednesday, February 17th from 6pm – 8pm. The event is free and open to the public.
Aquila Resources has applied to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for a mine permit. Aquila plans to develop a large open pit sulfide mine on the Menominee River northwest of Stephenson, extracting rock, processing ore – containing lead, zinc, copper, gold and other heavy metals using flotation, cyanide and smelting – and dumping their waste on the banks of Upper Michigan’s largest watershed.
“Sulfide mines are known to pollute indefinitely. This mine doesn’t belong on the Menominee River,” said Alexandra Maxwell, SWUP’s executive director.
The forum will include a slideshow, and experts offering brief overviews of the proposed mining activities, the environmental impacts from those mining activities, the potential loss of archaeological and cultural resources of the Menominee Nation and the significant regulatory steps taken by Menominee and Lake township residents to protect their citizens from the dangers of sulfide mining.
Wednesday’s “Don’t Undermine the Menominee” forum features a panel of experts from Michigan and Wisconsin, including: Gary Besaw, Menominee Indian Tribal Chairman; Denny Caneff, the executive director of the River Alliance of Wisconsin; Ron Henriksen, who joined the Front 40 Environmental Group to oppose the open pit metallic sulfide mine along the banks of the Menominee River; Dr. David Overstreet, a professor of archaeology at the College of the Menominee Nation; Doug Cox, the environmental program coordinator for the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin; Guy M. Reiter, an environmental advocate and a member of the Menominee Conservation Commission; and Chuck Brumleve, an environmental mining specialist and geologist.
“We’re truly honored to host such a knowledgeable and passionate panel of experts. The future of the Menominee River is at stake,” said Kathleen Heideman, SWUP’s president.
The Back Forty mine permit application – over 37,500 pages, including environmental impact assessment – is currently under review by the Michigan’s DEQ. Concerned citizens, regional environmental organizations, and the Menominee Tribe of Wisconsin are also scrutinizing the permit. “The Back Forty mine application raises more red flags than I can count – critical oak savannas, sturgeon fisheries, treaty-protected natural resources, and indigenous archaeological sites will be threatened or destroyed by this mining operation,” said Maxwell.
“Almost all of the rock Aquila plans to extract will be highly reactive, so acid mine drainage is going to be a serious issue here,” said Heideman.
“The DEQ has done almost nothing to educate the public about Aquila’s mining plans. This forum is long overdue. Yoopers have been hearing big promises from this company for over a decade. Everyone needs to be aware of the threats posed by this project,” said Maxwell. “This is a great opportunity for all of us to learn what’s really at stake — Michigan’s clean water, as usual, and the health and well-being of our communities. The U.P. is tired of being a long-term sacrifice zone for short-term profits.”
The public comment deadline for the Aquila application is Tuesday, February 16th at 5pm. Concerned citizens are urged to send comments and concerns to: MDEQ Back Forty Mine Comments, Office of Oil, Gas, and Minerals, 1504 West Washington Street, Marquette, Michigan, 49855; or by email to Joe Maki: makij3@michigan.gov
Founded in 2004, Save the Wild U.P. is a grassroots environmental organization dedicated to preserving the Upper Peninsula of Michigan’s unique cultural and environmental resources. For more information contact info@savethewildup.org or call (906) 662-9987. Get involved with SWUP’s work at savethewildup.org on Facebook at facebook.com/savethewildup or on Twitter @savethewildup.
MEDIA LINKS
“Don’t Undermine the Menominee” Event Page: http://bit.ly/MQTMenomineeForum
GUEST SPEAKER BIOS + PHOTOS
Gary Besaw is the Tribal Chairman of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin.
photo: http://bit.ly/BesawImage
Chuck Brumleve is an environmental mining specialist and geologist.
photo: http://bit.ly/CBrumleveImage
Denny Caneff is the Executive Director of the River Alliance of Wisconsin.
photo: http://bit.ly/DCaneffImage
Doug Cox is the Environmental Program Director for the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin.
photo: http://bit.ly/DCoxImage
Ron Henriksen is the spokesman for the group Menominee River Front 40.
photo: http://bit.ly/RHenriksenImage
Guy M. Reiter is a traditional Menominee Indian, an environmental advocate and a member of the Menominee Conservation Commission.
photo: http://bit.ly/GReiterImage
David Overstreet is the Principal Investigator at Center for Cultural Research, and professor at the College of the Menominee Nation.
photo: http://bit.ly/DOverstreetImage