Panel Discusses Great Lakes Basin Compact

Sulfide Mining Introduced as a Major Threat to the Great Lakes

October 3, 2008

Marquette, MI – Three panelists addressed environmental and conservation issues threatening the Great Lakes at a symposium sponsored by Northern Michigan University’s Political Science department. Panelists also presented a general outline of the new “Great Lakes Basin Compact,” which has been signed by the Governors of eight US states, as well as Ontario and Quebec.

In a presentation on the Great Lakes basin, Tom Baldini, current Upper Peninsula aide to US Representative Bart Stupak, noted that Lake Superior takes 190 years to regenerate its water supply, leading to concerns with long-term pollution. Baldini explained that, because Lake Superior has such a large surface area, it acts as a “cup” that collects and retains air pollution from as far away as China.

Ken Sikkema, former Michigan Senate Majority Leader and current Senior Policy Consultant with think-tank Public Sector Consultants (president and CEO, William Rustem, is a Kennecott consultant), maintained that “eternal vigilance is the price of protecting the Great Lakes” and considered invasive species the greatest threat to the Great Lakes.

Journalist, author and former environmental advisor to Governor James Blanchard, Dave Dempsey, urged the audience to consider, not only today’s economy, but our economy 30 or 40 years from now. Addressing the potential for long-term damage from acid mine drainage into the Great Lakes, Dempsey said, “I don’t see sulfide mining and the potential for long-term damage to Lake Superior…which….has a retention time of 190 years, as a very wise economic choice for the State. The benefits are few and the risks are great.”

Dempsey introduced inconsistencies with previous Great Lakes protection measures. Under a federal statute, Governors in states within the Great Lakes basin were able to veto any plan that diverts water outside of the Great Lakes basin. In 2001, Governor John Engler “vetoed” such a plan by a community in New York State to sell water commercially. However, only several months later, Perrier (now owned by Nestle) received permission from Engler to bottle water, in Michigan, for sale outside the Great Lakes basin.

In another example, Dempsey said that, despite campaign promises that she would prevent diversion and export of Great Lakes water, in 2003, Governor Jennifer Granholm intervened against Michigan citizens to overturn a court decision preventing Nestle from extracting Michigan water for sale throughout the world.

A major concern with the new Compact is the potential commodification of water. Dempsey noted that free trade agreements consider it illegal to prevent the export of a product across international boundaries.

According to Dempsey, “The danger that I see in the Great Lakes Compact, which became law today, is that we have now ratified a statutory policy of the eight Great Lakes states and the federal government that that water can be a product and not just a publicly-owned resource.”

Attendees were left with Dempsey’s hopeful message that, while “the damage may be done; on the other hand, there’s always the opportunity for us to go back to the Michigan legislature and, hopefully, Congress and strengthen the policies and try to prevent the commercialization of water.”

Several audience comments and questions concerned the threat of metallic sulfide and uranium mining to the Great Lakes. Some comments concerned the ability of legislation to protect the Great Lakes when continued industrial pollution would be permitted to continue. Panelists raised questions as to whether or not the State of Michigan has enough funding, or the will, to properly regulate and control continued industrial pollution.

According to Baldini, “We have laws…how will they be enforced…how will they be measured.”

Dempsey express that he does not “have faith that the State is prepared or willing or able to enforce that law….Funding for the Department of Environmental Quality is at an historic low level. The Director recently said, talking about a wetlands program, we don’t have enough staff to even send out to check on the permits anymore…basically, he said, we have an honor system…I have no faith that the Department of Environmental Quality will do the job.”

ACTION ALERT

BEAVER BASIN WILDERNESS PROPOSAL AT PICTURED ROCKS NATIONAL LAKESHORE IN FINAL PHASE

By the end of this legislative session in late October it is expected that the Senate will approve an omnibus lands bill that includes federal wilderness designation for the Beaver Basin at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. It has passed through all the necessary hoops so far, but its biggest hoop may well be in the House, where it will be immediately referred upon Senate passage. It needs to go through the House without dissent or calls for revision.

Representative Bart Stupak is the key member of our Michigan House delegation. Pictured Rocks lies within his congressional district. He holds the fate of this legislation in his hands. He has said “I do not support this bill at this time.” It is widely assumed that means “before the election.” We need to get him to change his mind and allow the Senate version of this omnibus lands bill to pass through the House without dissent.

Here are arguments to use in your phone, email, and snail mail messages to Representative Stupak:

• The 2004 Management Plan for the national lakeshore made all the essential compromises that Representative Stupak pushed for. It represents a community consensus on the main issues. It reduced the size of the wilderness area, it allowed motorized boats on the Beaver Basin lakes (albeit electric motors), it kept the Beaver Basin campground outside the wilderness, and allowed boats to land on the Lake Superior shoreline within the wilderness.

• There has been no active opposition among locals in Alger County where the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is located. Wilderness designation no longer seems to be a red flag.

• The Marquette Mining Journal gave the wilderness designation a positive editorial.

• Public access will not be changed, as this remote middle portion of the lakeshore has long been managed as primitive, non-motorized backcountry, and will continue to be so managed under wilderness designation.

• The national lakeshore is a valuable asset for Alger County. With the 2004 Plan’s improvements in developed visitor facilities on the east and west ends of the lakeshore, and the resumption of paving on H-58 along the lakeshore’s boundary, its economic value to the region is only being further enhanced.

The Splash

We have a new title for our publication! It’s now called The Splash and we hope it will help our grassroots efforts and make waves about metallic sulfide and uranium mining throughout the Great Lakes Region.

WHAT IS THE SPLASH: The  latest news about metallic sulfide mining and environmental issues from across the UP, Michigan, and the Great Lakes Region.

WHERE CAN YOU GET YOUR VERY OWN COPY?: Our publication is inserted into the Marquette Monthly and distributed to local businesses throughout Marquette. You can also pick up a copy at our office.

WHEN CAN YOU GET ANOTHER ONE?: We publish The Splash bi-monthly.

WHY: We have decided to become our own media in order to communicate issues to the public that we believe are important.  We feel it is of the utmost importance to educate the public about environmental issues that could affect our way of life.

Give our office a call if you need extra copies for your friends 906.228.4444

Enjoy Three Upcoming Events Hosted by the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve

October 4, 2008: Hike to the McCormick Tract- We are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act by hiking to the segment of the Yellow Dog River that is federally protected by this legislation. Everyone interested should meet at Cram’s General Store in Big Bay to carpool at 10am. Bring a lunch, water, and the necessities for a good hike. Call 906-345-9223 if you have questions.

October 5, 2008: Naturalist Drawing Workshop-Join YDWP and art enthusiast Nancy Moran to capture nature’s beauty. We will take a short hike to a picturesque spot and draw/paint as a group with Nancy lending her expertise. This event is free but you must bring your own supplies. Everyone interested should meet at the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve office in Big Bay at 1pm. Call 906-345-9223 for more details.

October 18, 2008: Benefit Concert for the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve- Numerous musical acts will be entertaining the guests including local favorite Mike Waite. Doors open at 5pm and music begins at 5:30pm. Tickets are available at the door for $7 per person or $15 per family. All proceeds will go to YDWP. The concert will be held at the Peter White Public Library. The poster is attached if anyone wishes to print one or to view it. This will be a fun night so make plans to attend! Call 906-345-9223 if you have questions.