Two U.P. residents attend Rio Tinto meeting in London

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Press Release  April 15, 2012

Two Upper Peninsula women are traveling to London, England to attend the Rio Tinto Annual General Meeting taking place April 19, 2012.  Carla Champagne of the grassroots citizens group Concerned Citizens of Big Bay and Cynthia Pryor of the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve, plan on attending the Rio Tinto AGM meeting for two reasons:

 

“Air Quality is of prime importance to the people and community of Big Bay.” states Carla Champagne.  “We are directly downwind and no one – including Kennecott and the DEQ – knows what is currently in the air coming from this mine, or even more importantly, what will be coming from the one once they are in full operation.  There are no air monitors either at the mine or anywhere near Big Bay.  We will be asking the Rio Tinto Board of Directors and their shareholders for a comprehensive air quality program to be installed in the region that will be regulated by the DEQ, monitored by DEQ approved third party scientists and all costs paid for by Kennecott.” Continue reading →

Celebrate the U.P. with Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition

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MARQUETTE — The fourth annual Celebration of the U.P., sponsored by the Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition (UPEC), will be held on Friday, March 30, and Saturday, March 31, at the Landmark Inn, Peter White Public Library and the Federated Women’s Clubhouse (the corners of Front Street and Ridge Street) in Marquette. Continue reading →

Mining firm drops out after Wisconsin bill rejected

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March 6, 2012

Madison – The state Senate rejected mining legislation on Tuesday, prompting a prominent mining company to say it was abandoning a project after months of often bitter debate that pitted conflicting claims of economic development against environmental protection.

“Senate rejection of the mining reforms . . . sends a clear message that Wisconsin will not welcome iron mining. We get the message,” said a statement from Bill Williams, president of Gogebic Taconite LLC. “(We are) ending plans to invest in a Wisconsin mine.” Continue reading →

Citizen Comment: CR 595 is nothing but a Kennecott Haul Road

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Letter to the Mining Journal, 2-10-2012

To the Journal editor:

Marquette County Road 595 is being built because of the mine at Eagle Rock. If there were no mine, there would be no road. It is a road for the mine, a haul road.

Kennecott needs to step up to the plate and do what is right, and it is the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality’s job to make them follow the law. Continue reading →

DEQ schedules public hearing for proposed CR 595

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Tuesday, February 21, 2012, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m

Country Village Convention Center in Ishpeming.

For talking points, go to   http://standfortheland.com/

DEQ officials announced a public hearing to discuss a proposed new road in Marquette County. The Marquette County Road Commission has submitted to the DEQ an application for a series of permits to create Marquette County Road 595, a proposed 21-mile road to connect US-41 with County Road AAA. Read entire press release…120131CountyRoad595(1)-3 Continue reading →

Wisconsin: Committee to vote on mining bill today

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By The Associated Press/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Jan. 24, 2012 7:00 a.m.

Madison – The Assembly jobs committee is set to approve a Republican bill that would streamline Wisconsin’s iron mining permit process.

The committee is set to vote Tuesday. Approval would clear the way for a full vote in the Assembly. The measure already is on the full Assembly’s Thursday calendar. Continue reading →