Thank you to Steve Garske of Marenisco for this excellent rebuttal to a inaccurate, inflammatory, and possibly slanderous LTE originally printed on 11/20/07.
Click here for the whole letter, Good and bad choices.
Thank you to Steve Garske of Marenisco for this excellent rebuttal to a inaccurate, inflammatory, and possibly slanderous LTE originally printed on 11/20/07.
Click here for the whole letter, Good and bad choices.
Living in Wisconsin the majority of my life I have frequented Wisconsin’s northwoods and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as scenic and beautiful places to enjoy nature in it’s purity.
My absolute favorite destination in the midwest is the McCormick Tract Wilderness Area. Which is now threatened by the seemingly destined encroachment of the Kennecott Mine on the headwaters of the Yellow Dog River.
Five years ago I moved from Conover, WI and now reside in Phoenix, AZ. So why should I care? With all the beauty and spectacular places to see and visit in the southwest, I burn valuable vacation time and spend my hard earned money to meet up with a friend from Wisconsin to enjoy the McCormick tract once a year for a week in UP paradise. You people in Michigan are truly lucky to have such a wonderful place. Sure the entire Upper Peninsula is beautiful, but the McCormick Tract is a designated Wilderness Area. A 17,000 acre federally protected wilderness area that the McCormick family willed to the USDA, entrusting the government to look after it and act as stewards to the lands and wildlife within
it’s borders. For years the USDA/Michigan has done exactly that and a great job. Until now. Now Michigan might allow a sulfide mining operation take place right on it’s borders?! I’m sure I can speak for the McCormick family and say this is NOT what they had in mind.
I don’t understand how the DEQ can justifiably grant permits for this. As this is NOT good for the McCormick, the Yellow Dog River/Plains, or Michigan’s environment.
I can only hope Michigan’s DNR acts with more sensibility and responsiblity.
I understand this will create jobs and provide some economic good for the UP but I don’t think this is a viable answer for Michigan’s unemployment problems. We live in an age where we can see the the direct consequences of errors made in regards to the environment from past generations. Have we learned nothing from this? Setting aside the “Do the right thing” from an environmental standpoint. Think of your tourism. I’m not the only individual to trek across the country to enjoy the UP. I’m not the only tourist who spends money in the UP. There are thousands that come from all over the US to enjoy the Upper Peninsula’s scenery and spend thousands in Michigan’s economy. The Kennecott Mine may deter some tourism. I know if the mine is given a “go”, I will most likely not be back and opt for a trip to the Grand Canyon instead. People of Michigan, please consider the consequnces as they will last generations leaving untold damage, disrupting your pristine lands, waters, and wildlife. You truly have something special, cherish it.
This is a wonderful response to all those of us who are displaced from our home and our heart, the UP. If the mine goes through I will mourn for the health of my family there, and I will not be comfortable brining my children home to visit. It would be a great loss.