July 20, 2012  The Mining Journal

To the Journal editor:

John Pepin’s July 8, 2012, report on Rio Tinto’s acid spill had an interesting but disturbing quote; “Blondeau said this was the first spill to occur at the Eagle Mine or Kennecott’s Humboldt Mill.”

I don’t believe that this statement by Dan Blondeau is true. I’m respectfully calling on all Rio Tinto contractors and employees to contact The Mining Journal with information regarding any and all hazardous substance spills that have taken place at the Eagle Mine and Humboldt Mill. I’m also asking that medical workers at Marquette area hospitals contact the Journal with information regarding exposures to chemicals at these Rio Tinto operations.

Not too long ago, I received a report from a representative with one of the environmental advocacy groups who also works at Marquette General North hospital. She said that workers at the Humboldt Mill were treated for cyanide exposure. Meanwhile, I’m turning to the free standing law signed by President Reagan to see if we can get to the truth. The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA), commonly known as SARA Title III requires reporting to encourage and support emergency planning efforts at the state and local levels and to provide the public and local governments with information concerning potential chemical hazards present in their communities. Finally, before we find out differently, I call on Rio Tinto to be completely forthright about all spills you are responsible for – before the aforementioned requested reports come in.

Jeffery Loman, Anchorage, Alaska