Monday, July 30 2007

The DEQ is resuming the permit application process after a 5-month investigation into missing documents, possible malfeasance by a DEQ employee and serious safety issues with the Kennecott’s mine plan. We need anyone and everyone who is concerned about the proposed mine to step up and speak out at the public hearings or send in your letters urging the DEQ to deny this permit.

Public Hearing dates in Marquette and Lansing

We will post a driving directions & a map as the hearing date approaches.

-from the DEQ Eagle Project Update Page:

“The DEQ has resumed its review of the Eagle Project Mine permit application and reinstated its earlier proposed decision to approve a series of permits to the Kennecott Eagle Minerals Company. This decision remains only a proposal and the public will continue to have an opportunity to provide their comments. Public hearings have been scheduled in Marquette at the NMU University Center on September 10, near Marquette at the West Branch Community Center in Forsyth Township from September 11-13, as well as in Lansing at the Lansing Center on September 19. The public comment period will remain open through October 17, and written comments can be sent to DEQ/DNR Kennecott Comments, Office of Geological Survey, P.O. Box 30256, Lansing, Michigan 48909-7756, or by e-mail at DEQ-Kennecott-comments@michigan.gov.”

Note the change in the mail and e-mail address for the comments. All electronic correspondence used to be sent to Steve Wilson (wilsonse@michigan.gov)

Additional Info from the State of Michigan

An update of current events and anticipated timelines 1. The DNR has asked Kennecott to donate 120 acres to the State of Michigan to offset the use and lease of the 120 acres surrounding the Rock for their mine facilities. This offset would provide like public access that would be given up until the year 2042. Kennecott has responded that they would be willing to do that and selected 120 acres of their lands that abut the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve on the Yellow Dog Plains.2. The DEQ has finished their internal investigation and find no malfeasance on the part of DEQ officials – only a lack of training and poor judgment. They will be doing the following in the ensuing months:- Retain the services of a third party geotechnical engineering expert to provide an independent evaluation of the crown pillar stability and potential hydrologic impacts – Reactivate the multidisciplinary mining team and prepare formal written procedures for the mining team to identify roles, responsibilities, and action steps for the application review process- Prepare written guidance to the mining team on maintenance of the permit application file with clear identification of the information to be made part of the public record and available on the DEQ Web site- Provide Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) training and written guidance for the entire mining team (and subsequently to all DEQ staff involved in responding to FOIA requests)- Offered to host a technical meeting with stakeholders (the opposition coalition)The DEQ has noted that it may be up to four months before the permit application is back on track and there is no word at what point the process will begin.3. Jim Paquette, a noted archeologist in Marquette County, submitted Eagle Rock as a formal archeological site with the State of Michigan who accepted the site noting that they would conduct an investigation in the spring. The State of Michigan then assigned Kennecott Minerals as their representative to investigate the site (!) – this after Kennecott archeological consultants found no evidence of archeological or historic influence at the Rock. Keweenaw Bay Indian Community will be monitoring the investigation.Thanks to Cynthia Pryor of The Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve for the concise update