The famous leading Old Testament scholar and prolific author, Walter Brueggemann, recently visited the Upper Peninsula to discuss the controversial sulfide mine proposal and the Bible’s environmental messages. His presentation explored the “connection of the Bible and the environmental crisis.”
For the whole story and a link to a video on the presentation click here.
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MARQUETTE — Four Upper Peninsula chapters of the Michigan Audubon Society have signed a joint resolution opposing all sulfide-based mining in the Upper Peninsula.
Announcement of the groups’ opposition came as a state Department of Environmental Quality public comment period on the proposed approval of a Kennecott Eagle Minerals Company nickel and copper mine closed Wednesday.
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Below is the introduction of the 700+ page review of Kennecott’s Mining Permit Application (MPA) by the National Wildlife Federation. The report addresses serious legal and technical deficiencies with the MPA. You may download the entire 702 page document as a PDF (It is a large file – 24.8 MB)
Comments in Opposition to Issuance of the Nonferrous Metallic Mining Permit Required by Part 632, NREPA Applied for by Kennecott Eagle Minerals Company, February 2006
Submitted to Michigan Department of Environmental Quality on October 17, 2007 by National Wildlife Federation, Michelle Halley, Esq.
These comments address the Mining Permit Application (MPA) for a nonferrous metallic mine commonly called the ‘Eagle Project’ originally applied for by Kennecott Eagle Minerals Company (KEMC) in February of 2006, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) subsequent preliminary approval issued on July 30, 2007 and the Draft Permit MP 01 2007.
The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is a national conservation and education organization with over 4 million members. The Great Lakes and Lake Superior have been focal points of our work for over 25 years since they are globally important natural resources for wildlife and humans. This project poses dire threats to the Lake Superior watershed.
Our review of this MPA reveals some startling likelihoods should the mine be allowed to proceed as proposed:
These likely and scientifically supported scenarios – none of them discussed or disproved by the MPA — demonstrate the low quality of KEMC’s MPA, that the MPA does not meet standards in Part 632 and other Michigan and federal laws, and that the MPA should be summarily denied.
Mine debate echoes across state – Decision time near
By JOHN FLESHER, AP Environmental Writer
TRAVERSE CITY (AP) — Biking enthusiast Michael Robold recoils at the idea of a copper and nickel mine amid the woods and rivers of the Yellow Dog Plains.
‘‘It would be a travesty!’’ he exclaimed during a rally called by opponents.
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Eric Hansen, an award-winning outdoors-writer, has written a beautiful op-ed in The Capital Times, based in Madison, WI. Save The Wild UP would like to thank Eric for his positive contributions to this issue and the effort he puts into helping Michigan folks and organizatuions network with our Wisconsin neighbors. It really helps to have support from those who have dealt with similar situations and in the case of Crandon…those who have triumphed!
MARQUETTE – Area physicians concerned about the public health implications of a proposed sulfide mine voted overwhelmingly last week to pass a resolution opposing the project.
At a quarterly medical staff meeting, 117 physicians cast their vote in favor of the resolution, which expressed their wish to “urge the Michigan DEQ to deny the permits (air, water, mining, and state land use) for the Kennecott sulfide mine proposed in Marquette County.”
Scott Emerson, MD, was in attendance at the meeting and said the mood was one of euphoria because the physicians were grateful for an opportunity to discuss the project and their concerns.
“Would you allow a surgeon that had a history of complications to work on your mother? That’s really what we’re talking about with this mine, isn’t it,” Emerson said, explaining the comparison of mining to medicine. “The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior and physicians understand that.”
Emerson, an area emergency physician, said the health of the community was one of the major driving forces behind the vote.
“It’s a health issue and, as physicians, we are concerned about preventative medicine. That means we are concerned about our air and water, too. Many physicians have been told by patients how concerned they are and really wanted the medical community to stand up for their health concerns,” he explained.
Prior to the vote, physicians discussed a number of concerns in addition to the health implications, including inadequate hydrology studies, potential for Lake Superior contamination, air exhaust carrying particulate dust, and general errors and assumptions that do not meet state environmental statutes.
In addition, Emerson said there is general concern about what he called a “threshold phenomenon.”
“You’re opening the gates. This isn’t about approving one mine, but opening the gates to 20, 30 or more. That’s what physicians are also worried about. Is that part of the DEQ calculation? We don’t think so,” he explained.
The resolution passed by the physicians was read in Lansing Wednesday at the final public hearing on the proposed sulfide mine.
To The Editor:
As a former Wisconsin resident, I found it interesting that Kennecott Mining Company points to their success with the Flambeau sulfide mine in Ladysmith, WI to promote their proposed sulfide mine in Marquette County. Your readers should be aware of these facts:
The total mining tax revenue to Ladysmith, the Town of Grant, and Rusk County from 1989 through 1999 was less than 1% of the profits garnered by the mining company from their exploitation of Rusk County’s mineral resources.
Much of the “investment as a result of mine-stimulated project” claimed by mining promoters was actually state and federal development money coming out of tax dollars.
In 1993, the year with the greatest local employment by the mining company, the annual unemployment rate for Rusk County shot up to an unprecedented 11.8%, over three times the statewide jobless rate of 3.1%. Even at peak operation, the Flambeau mine only employed about 40 “local” residents, some of whom were actually long-term Kennecott employees, brought into the area early enough to establish local residency according to the local agreement, and itinerant miners.
Rusk County ranked next to the bottom in western Wisconsin in both 1997 equalized property values and percent increase in property values since 1996. While most of western Wisconsin saw unprecedented growth between 1989 and 1997, the population of Ladysmith actually decreased during these years of mine operation.
In 1997, Rusk County received a grant from the Governor’s Juvenile Justice Commission because it had the lowest income per capita and ranked third in juvenile violent crime offenses in the state.
Ladysmith’s economic gains compared with other north central Wisconsin communities over the same period show that sulfide mining does not draw people to an area to recreate, relocate and spend money like communities with recreational assets. People don’t vacation at a sulfide mine.
If Ladysmith is an example, the claim of economic revival resulting from massive influx of capital into the region due to a sulfide mine is a myth. The profits and the jobs went out of the county, state, and country along with the gold, copper, and silver.
In Marquette county, will jobs and businesses be at risk with loss of tourism dollars? If people don’t move here, will property values decline? Aside from the serious environmental and health risks associated with this mine, your readers along with city, county, and state leaders should ask if this community will be economically better off with a sulfide mine in its backyard.
Merrill Horswill
Marquette
Citizens push MDEQ to reject proposed mine
Hearings reveal informed citizenry opposed to risky sulfide mine
Marquette, MI – People of all ages, professions, educational backgrounds and income levels spoke as one this week when the overwhelming majority told state regulators in no uncertain terms that permitting a metallic sulfide mine on the Yellow Dog Plains would be a grave mistake.
Over the course of four days of public hearings in Marquette County, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality listened as everyday citizens including doctors, engineers, lawyers, and even miners spoke of air quality, water pollutants, quality of life, and an abiding love for Lake Superior and the Yellow Dog Plains.
What they heard very little of was support for the proposed mine. A handful of individuals with direct financial ties to the proposed mine spoke in favor of the project but were far outnumbered by opponents who expressed concern about the applications submitted by Kennecott Eagle Minerals Company and informed skepticism for mining company promises.
Dick Huey, co-founder of Save the Wild UP, reflected on the hearings.
“This has been a week that proved anew that the citizen side of democracy is alive and well. People have learned the issues that plague sulfide mining, they’ve researched their facts, gathered to testify in an orderly way, and have become a tide of opposition to this mine for a host of good reasons. It just remains to be seen if the governmental side of democracy will work as well, or whether politics as usual, big money, and spin will rule the day,” Huey said.
Michelle Halley, attorney for the National Wildlife Federation, commented on the employment-related testimony of the few who spoke in favor of the project.
“There is absolutely nothing in the nonferrous mining law or rules that allows the MDEQ to base this decision on economics – even if the company could prove the state and local governments would get their fair share – which they can’t. MDEQ is charged with evaluating the applications based on whether they meet the required standards, and countless experts have provided irrefutable testimony that Kennecott’s plan will not protect the environment and cannot meet the standards of law,” Halley explained.
Both Huey and Halley were reassured by the testimony of Marquette County citizens.
“The testimony this week provides additional reassurance that we are on firm ground and representing the wishes of the majority,” Halley said, adding, “and convincing MDEQ to grant these permits is just the beginning of the company’s battles. Kennecott is ignoring the fact that the United States Environmental Protection Agency is also requiring federal permits because the mine threatens drinking water; those permitting procedures have barely even begun.”
One inaccuracy that was pointed out by several citizens during testimony was Kennecott’s representation of the situation at its Flambeau mine in Wisconsin. Contrary to company statements that the project received its 2007 Certificate of Completion, Wisconsin court documents show that Kennecott received only a partial certificate of completion due to problems with 32 acres of the site. According to the documents, Kennecott must continue remediation efforts and monitoring of water, soils, crayfish and walleye in that area for a variety of heavy metals. The company, according to court documents, cannot apply for a certificate of completion for at least three years.
“I wonder which 32 acres on the Yellow Dog Plains would be sacrificed if Flambeau is the example to which Kennecott aspires,” Huey remarked. “To label Flambeau a success when 32 acres requires on-going remediation and monitoring because of pollutants in the soil, water, and aquatic life is shameful. Citizens who knew the real facts of Flambeau proved once again that company spin is no match for those willing to dig deeper for the truth,” he said.
The MDEQ panel will accept additional public testimony on September 19 at a hearing in Lansing at the Lansing Center. Written testimony will also be received through October 17.
Resounding Public Opposition to Proposed Sulfide Mine at
Contacts:
Susan Fawcett, www.earthworkmusic.com info@earthworkmusic.com 231 622 2333
Alexis Raney, www.savethewildup.org info@savethewildup.org 906 228 4444
Opponents of Kennecott’s proposed metallic sulfide mine turned out in force this week at public hearings held in
Groups like the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve, Save the Wild U.P., Earthwork Music, League of Conservation Voters and many others have teamed up to raise awareness and unite the community to protect our most precious resource. Thousands of Michiganders have agreed that the risks of contaminating our water and harming our wildlife do not warrant the insignificant promise of fewer than one hundred jobs for fewer than seven years. Marquette native and Earthwork Music collective member, Joshua Davis shared his thoughts:
I’ve spent countless hours in and around the
The public is encouraged to come to
DEQ/DNR Kennecott Comments, Office of Geological Survey,
or e-mail DEQ-Kennecott-comments@michigan.gov
For those interested in sending comments to the DEQ, learning more, or attending the hearings, there will be speakers and information material on Tuesday evening, Sept 18th at Dagwood’s in
This is a historic moment in
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New Report on the Economic Benefit of healthy
‘The Great Lakes economy depends on the health of the
Click here to read the National Wildlife Federation Press Release on Brookings Great Lakes Report, or go directly to the presentation of the report or visit http://www.healthylakes.org/