Michelle Halley of the National Wildlife Federation issued a statement yesterday that you should read in its entirety. Here’s a taste:
Today, Michigan’s Department of Environmental Quality issued a statement vacating its draft decision to permit a sulfide mine in the Upper Peninsula because of a ‘smoking gun’ memo critical of the mine that the agency’s own employees covered up …
We believe it is time for an independent investigation of the DEQ’s process for the Kennecott mining proposal, as well as other major permits that have come before the department.
We stand firmly behind the position we’ve had since Day 1: This mine puts the health of our people and communities at risk for no good reason … Sulfide mining has proven deadly to rivers, streams and communities in other states. And jeopardizing the health of our state for 75 jobs—that’s not the future we want for Michigan and our families. It’s not worth the risk.”