Mid-January or beyond – EPA Draft decision is expected. Public hearing dates will be announced at that time which are expected to be scheduled 60 days from the draft decision.
Mid-April – USFWS will announce whether or not the Coaster Brook Trout qualifies under the Endangered Species Protection Act.
Anytime – A recommendation is expected from the administrative law judge in Lansing, Richard A. Patterson, based on evidence and testimony presented by the National Wildlife Federation, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and the Huron Mountain Club over the course of last summer. His recommendation is sent to Michigan DEQ Director Stephen Chester for a final decision.
February 12 – Rio Tinto has announced that due to the sagging global economy, some of their projects, including Eagle, could be axed. Kennecott is proceeding into the future with caution.
The Eagle Project will never be axed, but it may be backburnered until the economy and the price of metals improve. Even if they sat they’re no longer interested in the Eagle Project, they WILL be back.
I understand that the reading of the core samples is actually incomplete and that if you read the core samples taken further down at the same site, you will find unstable rock that is in capable of being stable enough to prevent the contamination of the ground water.
Please talk to the geological experts at MTU that are knowledgeable about this. The readings were conveniently stopped short of the damning evidence of this instability.
Don’t waste a minute investigating this – seek and find the truth for everyone’s sake
We need to keep the fight alive and get the project stopped so they can’t come back in the future. The state of Michigan needs to say no to this project, there is to much at stake. We are the protectors of the land and great lakes we need to stay strong and keep fighting the fight.
Why are we being held hostage to the whims of Rio Tinto’s economic needs? Why haven’t we settled this already in favor of a state known to preserve the environment? I hope in January, a car caravan is ready to drive to DC and ask someone there to help. We don’t seem to be getting it from Lansing. Pass a law that says NOBODY can do sulfide mining in the state, like others have, and be done with it. Michigan’s UP economy will be ruined if they go ahead with this mining fiasco. Kennecott has never drilled without disaster. Don’t let us be next to believe their lies. Mike from Boston, with land near Yellowdog River, where I hope to build a cabin soon. No drilling please.
Hey Mike from Boston,
I live in DC and also own property in the central UP that I inetnd to build on – soon. Don’t want to live in a wasteland and don’t understand why those who are so close to the situation seem to be willing to accept it.