EPA Public Hearing on Wetland Fill Permit Application for County Road 595 in Marquette, Michigan

Posted on by

07/30/2012

CHICAGO (July 30, 2012) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will hold a public hearing on August 28th to take comments on the Marquette County Road Commission’s application for a wetland fill permit for the construction of County Road 595. EPA scheduled the hearing at the request of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.

The Road Commission has proposed a new 21.5-mile primary county road, running north-south between U.S. Highway 41 and County Road Triple A, through Champion, Ely, Humboldt and Michigamme Townships. According to the application, construction would affect 25.81 acres of wetlands and would require the building of 22 stream crossings.

MDEQ has the authority to issue permits for projects under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act for wetlands, lakes and streams. EPA’s role is to ensure that proposed projects comply with federal guidelines. At the hearing, EPA will take comments on two issues: (1) whether there are practical, alternate routes for the road which would have less impact on aquatic resources; and (2) proposals to mitigate damage to wetlands and streams.

Oral and written comments will be taken at the public hearing. EPA will hold an informational question-and-answer session immediately before the public hearing — at 6 p.m. on Aug. 28. The public hearing begins at 7 p.m. Both will be held at Northern Michigan University, Don H. Bottums University Center, Ontario/Michigan/Huron Rooms, 1401 Presque Isle Ave., Marquette.

The public comment period started on July 27 and concludes on Sept. 4, 2012. Comments should be addressed to Melanie Haveman, U.S. EPA (WW-16J), 77 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60604-3590 or r5_cr595_comments@epa.gov. For questions or additional information, call EPA toll-free at 800-621-8431, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.,week days. Related documents and information about the public hearing are available on EPA’s website at www.epa.gov/region5/water/cr595.

The official records are also available at the Ishpeming Carnegie Public Library, 317 N. Main St., Ishpeming.

Contact Information: Anne Rowan, 312-353-9391, rowan.anne@epa.gov; Peter Cassell, 312-886-6234, cassell.peter@epa.gov; Brad Wurfel, 517-241-7395, wurfelb@michigan.gov

 

Judge refuses to stop work on Eagle Mine

Posted on by
July 26, 2012
By JOHN FLESHER – AP Environmental Writer , The Mining Journal

TRAVERSE CITY – A federal judge has refused to halt construction of a nickel and copper mine in northern Marquette County.

In an order signed Wednesday, Judge Robert Holmes Bell rejected a request by the private Huron Mountain Club to stop work on the mine while the club’s lawsuit works its way to trial.

The exclusive club owns about 19,000 acres of forestland in Marquette County, including an 11-mile stretch of the Salmon Trout River. In May, the club filed a suit claiming the mine would damage the river and nearby wetlands.

The mine’s name recently was changed from Kennecott Eagle Minerals Co. to Rio Tinto Eagle Mine.

State regulators and company officials say the mine can be operated safely. Drilling has begun and mineral production is expected to begin in 2014.

Court Rules Flambeau ‘Model Mine’ Violated Clean Water Act

Posted on by

Court Rules Flambeau ‘Model Mine’ Violated Clean Water Act

The Flambeau Mine near Ladysmith, WI has a long history of controversy due, in part, to the proximity of the mine to the Flambeau River. This photo was taken in September 1994, when heavy rains   caused flooding at the mine site.

 

State Officials Urged to ‘Learn from Flambeau’ and Stop Proposed Mega-Mines in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan

A federal court ruled yesterday that Flambeau Mining Company (FMC) violated the Clean Water Act on numerous occasions by allowing pollution from its Flambeau Mine site, near Ladysmith, Wis., to enter the Flambeau River and a nearby tributary known as Stream C.

The lawsuit was filed early last year by the Wisconsin Resources Protection Council (WRPC), the Center for Biological Diversity, and Laura Gauger. The complaint charged that Flambeau Mining Company (a subsidiary of Kennecott Minerals Company / Rio Tinto) was violating the Clean Water Act by discharging stormwater runoff containing pollutants, including toxic metals like copper and zinc, from a detention basin known as a biofilter. Continue reading →

Urgent: Kennecott seeks 15,000+ acres of state-owned mineral rights in the U.P.‏

Posted on by
Greetings Friends,
The state of Michigan is proposing to lease more than 15,000 acres of state-owned mineral rights in three adjoining counties in the Upper Peninsula. These minerals, in Baraga, Houghton and Iron counties, would be leased to Kennecott Eagle Minerals, a subsidiary of mining giant Rio Tinto.
General area of proposed leasing: Mineral leasing vicinity2-1
The acreage mentioned is just what is being leased by the Michigan DNR.  We suspect that Kennecott has rights to the minerals in areas surrounding the current parcels as well, which could bring the total to as much as 45,000 acres.  Continue reading →

Rio Tinto Lacks Transparency

Posted on by

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. Continue reading →

10.000 Trees The Manitou Project

Posted on by

10.000 Trees The Manitou Project

The public is invited to join The Cedar Tree Institute its friends and collaborative partners in planting 10,000 Northern White Cedar trees across Northern Michigan in the summer of 2012. The white cedar has seen a 30% decline in Michigan’s forests and is regarded as a medicinal tree among the Ojibway, Potawatomi and Odawa peoples of Michigan. Its Latin name is Arbor vitae meaning “Tree of Life.” The species is essential to the integrity of this region’s native ecosystem. Continue reading →