The Mining Journal
By JOHN PEPIN, Journal Staff Writer
Published: Tuesday, January 09, 2007

MARQUETTE — The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality gave preliminary approval of permits for a controversial Kennecott Eagle Minerals Company underground nickel mine on the Yellow Dog Plains in northern Marquette County.

More public comment and hearings will be held before a final decision on whether to grant the mining company’s mining, air and water quality permits is made by the DEQ later this year.

“We have made a preliminary decision that this project meets conditions under the law,” said Robert McCann, a DEQ spokesman in Lansing.

The DEQ decision announced today follows an extensive review of Kennecott’s application, supporting documents and public input on the project.

“Kennecott is very pleased with the DEQ’s preliminary decision,” said Jon Cherry, Kennecott’s manager of environment and government affairs. “We look forward to the remainder of the process.”

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

A series of three nine-hour public hearings are planned for March 6-8 at Northern Michigan University to gather more comment on the preliminary DEQ decision. Public comments will be accepted from now until 28 days after the hearings.

“We have made every effort to involve the public in this process and allow them time to review the available information regarding this proposed project,” DEQ Director Steven E. Chester stated in a press release. “As our decision today is itself a proposal, and not a final decision, we are again asking the public to provide their comments and help us ensure that this project is as protective of the environment as it can be.”

Kennecott’s Eagle Project Mine proposes to extract nickel, copper and other metals from a small but rich metal sulfide deposit located about 25 miles northwest of Marquette.

The DEQ said the company would use underground mining methods that are designed to avoid impacts to the nearby Salmon Trout River or adjacent lands.

The entrance to the mine, as well as the associated surface facilities, would be at a remote upland location, and the ore would be transported by truck and rail to a processing site in Ontario.

Kennecott proposes to backfill the mined-out areas with waste rock, gravel and cement and reclaim the entire area to its original condition at the conclusion of mining.

Groups opposed to the mine said the DEQ made its preliminary decision despite a “seriously flawed permit application and the wishes of thousands of residents.”

“The permit application is filled with ambiguous responses,” said Michelle Halley, attorney for the National Wildlife Federation. “Kennecott is expecting the people of Michigan to trust that they can operate a sulfide mine that will not contaminate the surrounding areas, but the track record of both Kennecott and sulfide mining is filled with contamination and inaccurate predictions.”

Cynthia Pryor, executive director of the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve, also disagreed with the preliminary decision.

“It is astonishing that — with so many areas of Kennecott’s permit application deficient, vague or downright absent — the Michigan DEQ has granted preliminary approval,” Pryor said. “Utilizing untested technology and with a spotty track record at best, Kennecott has sold the Michigan DEQ a bill of goods and the Michigan DEQ is apparently buying.”

Some of the opposition concerns include the economic stability of the area, the impact on tourism and recreation, human health risks, threat to water quality and environmental impacts.

If the project meets final approval of the DEQ, construction of the mine would likely start later this year and take about two years to complete, Cherry said.

Story appeared in The Mining Journal.

Download the official “Proposed Decision” six-page document. [Adobe PDF]