An update of current events and anticipated timelines 1. The DNR has asked Kennecott to donate 120 acres to the State of
Michigan to offset the use and lease of the 120 acres surrounding the Rock for their mine facilities. This offset would provide like public access that would be given up until the year 2042. Kennecott has responded that they would be willing to do that and selected 120 acres of their lands that abut the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve on the Yellow Dog Plains.2. The DEQ has finished their internal investigation and find no malfeasance on the part of DEQ officials – only a lack of training and poor judgment. They will be doing the following in the ensuing months:- Retain the services of a third party geotechnical engineering expert to provide an independent evaluation of the crown pillar stability and potential hydrologic impacts – Reactivate the multidisciplinary mining team and prepare formal written procedures for the mining team to identify roles, responsibilities, and action steps for the application review process- Prepare written guidance to the mining team on maintenance of the permit application file with clear identification of the information to be made part of the public record and available on the DEQ Web site- Provide Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) training and written guidance for the entire mining team (and subsequently to all DEQ staff involved in responding to FOIA requests)- Offered to host a technical meeting with stakeholders (the opposition coalition)The DEQ has noted that it may be up to four months before the permit application is back on track and there is no word at what point the process will begin.3. Jim Paquette, a noted archeologist in
Marquette
County, submitted Eagle Rock as a formal archeological site with the State of
Michigan who accepted the site noting that they would conduct an investigation in the spring. The State of
Michigan then assigned Kennecott Minerals as their representative to investigate the site (!) – this after Kennecott archeological consultants found no evidence of archeological or historic influence at the Rock. Keweenaw Bay Indian Community will be monitoring the investigation.Thanks to Cynthia Pryor of The Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve for the concise update
I just read a story about the proposed sulfite mining in the Salmon Trout river in the UP in Critical Moment, a Detroit alternative news publication. It’s appalling that the state can legally sell off public lands without the consent of the people of the state as well as totally disregard the rights of the Ojibwa tribe to safely hunt, fish and gather on these lands as a result of a treaty agreed to by the government in 1842. Is there a petition that could be circulated throughout the state and presented to Gov. Granholm and the Mi. congressional body? In the article it says that this mine would only be open for 7 or 8 yrs. and employ fewer than 120 during peak production, including a number of imported workers. This just seems like a colossally bad idea.
Leslie, there are several petitions out there. Here is one of them: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/nosulfidemining/
Also, go this on July 2nd from Steve Wilson:
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY – from the report:
Kennecott Eagle Minerals has submitted a Mining Permit Application for their Eagle Project in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Owing to concerns regarding the mine crown pillar stability and the potential for mining induced subsidence and its affect on the surface and ground water, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality had the Itasca Consulting Company carry out a review of the supporting geotechnical work.
This led to a modification in the mining plan that would not let the mining elevation exceed a mine elevation that left a substantial and stable crown pillar. Apparently there were still some concerns about the stability of the crown pillar, which has caused this review to be carried out.
The concern with respect to crown pillar stability for the mining plan presented in the 2006 Mining Permit Application for the Eagle Project of Kennecott Minerals was warranted. The initial geotechnical work did not establish a stable crown pillar, and there was insufficient geotechnical and hydrological data available to determine the subsidence and hydrological response due to mining.
Subsequent geotechnical work has resulted in establishing an upper mining elevation limit that will allow for mining to be carried out below and not have any effect on the surface. The Mining Permit Application for the Eagle Project has been modified to incorporate this upper mining limit (Phase 3). Additional geotechnical data collection will take place during mining and a Phase 3 crown pillar study will be carried out. The Itasca Consulting Group has endorsed the revised Mining Permit Application.
I concur with Itasca and conclude that the Phase 3 mining limit at the 327.5 m elevation results in an 87.5 m thick pillar that is stable. The additional field investigations and data analysis to be carried out will determine whether mining can take place above the Phase 3 mining limit, and if so, will establish a stable crown pillar that precludes adverse subsidence and hydrological affects.
Hence, I recommend that the Mining Application Permit for the Eagle Project be approved.
Steven E. Wilson
MDEQ, Geological Survey
Minerals & Mapping Unit Supervisor
525 W. Allegan, P. O. Box 30256
Lansing, MI 48909-7756
Carrin W. mentions that she got the above Executive Summary from Steve Wilson on July 2nd. However, from what report was this executive summary, and when was it published? Was it from the one that granted “tentative approval” from earlier this year, or is this executive summary from a more recent report that now has approved the mine application?
This is a repeat post, somehow my post from 8 hours ago got deleted…
Carrin W. has posted the Executive Summary that she got from Steven Wilson above. The post mentions that Carrin received this summary on July 2nd.
What isn’t clear is what report this summary is from. Is this summary from a report from the beginning of the year when the “tentative approval” of the permit was granted, or is this a more recent report? If this is a more recent report then does that mean the mine is back to the “approved” status that it had 5 months ago? Some clarification would be appreciated.
The summary above is from Dr. Wilson Blake, a geotechnical engineering expert that the DEQ hired to review Kennecott’s UPDATED permit application (they changed their original plan concerning the thickness of the crown pillar). This report was just released at the beginning of July. The DEQ has made no public announcement concerning the permit application’s status since it was put on hold in March.
It can be viewed at:
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/deq/WBlakeReport_201259_7.pdf
The way the summary was sent in an e-mail from Steve Wilson of the DEQ, was very misleading. It looked like Mr. Wilson had written it, due to the placement of his automatic signature at the end of the e-mail. You will find both the summary and the full report at the web address above.