September DEQ Public Hearing dates!

These Public Hearings and comment period are your opportunity to voice your concerns for Kennecott’s proposed mine on the Yellow Dog Plains.

Take Action now!

Click here to access our online letter to send to the DEQ/DNR

Click here to use a cut and paste version of the letter

Click here to find your elected representatives

The Last Public Hearing will be held on:

September 19, 1 – 4:30 pm and 6 – 9:30 pm
Lansing Center, Rooms 203 and 204, 333 E. Michigan Ave.,
Lansing, Michigan

Written comments are accepted any time, now through October 17, 2007. You can send them either postal mail or e-mail to the following addresses:DEQ/DNR Kennecott CommentsOffice of Geological Survey

P.O. Box 30256

, Lansing, Michigan 48909-7756 or by e-mail at DEQ-Kennecott-comments@michigan.gov
According to a e-mail from Steve Wilson at the DEQ, the updated public hearing notice is posted on the internet. Mr. Wilson has also posted the updated Part 632 permit conditions.

Here We Go Again!

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

Oh, the irony

On the same day as the Supreme Court Decision in the Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation vs. Nestle case that has left many of us stunned and agitated, legislation has been introduced in the Michigan House Of Representatives to protect our Great Lakes.

The following is an excerpt from a July 25, 2007 Press Release:

“As the only state entirely within the Great Lakes watershed, Michigan has the most to gain from the strong regulations included in this package of bills,” said David Holtz of Clean Water Action. “It puts Michigan front and center as a leader in the fight to protect the Great Lakes from massive diversions to other states, countries, or by profit-hungry corporations.

For the rest of the release :

Great Lakes Legislation

An Assault on our Rights!

The Michigan Supreme Court recently yanked some teeth from the Michigan Environmental Protection Act. The four-majority justices decided (with some pressure from Nestle) that one must prove that they have been directly affected before suing for damages to the environment.

Read:

an editorial from the Traverse Record-Eagle

an article from the Cadillac News

MCWC Press Relase

The Supreme Court’s Opinion

Greg Brown’s Yellow Dog CD is going National!

Congratulations to the hard working folks at Earthwork Music and Fox on a Hill Productions for teaming up with Redeye Distribution to manufacture and market an additional 10,000 Yellow Dogs for sale around the U.S. and beyond. This new partnership will hopefully bring the Yellow Dog Plains, its beauty and the threats it faces to a national audience.

All proceeds from sales of the CD will be donated to the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve.

Click here for the Yellow Dog CD Press Release

Click here for a great blog on this CD and Earthworks Music from Michigan Liberal

Click here for new review of the CD in HARP magazine

Update: Kennecott Permit Application

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

Winners of the Video Challenge

The results are in from the public voting for the Save The Wild UP Video Challenge.

Drum Roll Please…

The Grand Prize Winner with 1907 votes is Josh Leo for his Video titled “Sulfide Mining Will Damage Michigan“. Prizes for the Grand Prize Winner include $2500 & a holiday package in the Huron Mountains of the Upper Peninsula.

The First Runner-Up with 1406 votes is Peter Schriemer for his video titled “Michigan’s Water and Wildlife“. Prizes for the First Runner-Up include a beautiful limited edition Coaster Brook Trout Print and a gift package from The Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate

The Second Runner-Up is Scott Lynch for his video titled “Kennecott Eagle Mine“. Prizes for the First Runner-Up include a beautiful limited edition Coaster Brook Trout Print and a gift package from The Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate.

Finalist Prize Package Every finalist will receive a prize package that includes a No Sulfide Mining T-Shirt (coming pretty soon!), Greg Brown’s new CD Yellow Dog (benefits the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve) and a 1# bag of Higher Grounds Trading Co. coffee (fair-trade, shade grown, organic).

Save The Wild UP would like to give a heartfelt thanks to all the participants in this contest. Your creativitity and skills were enjoyed by thousands. Keep up the good work folks and get out and enjoy Michigan’s water!

We also want to thank:

The Water Festival

Earthwork Music

Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate

Higher Grounds Trading Co.

Absolute Michigan

Thunder Bay Inn

UPWaterFront.com

Investigation into processing of Eagle Project Mine Application appears a “whitewash”

On March 9, 2007, representatives of a number of environmental groups sent a letter to Michigan Department Environmental Quality Director Steven Chester regarding numerous grave concerns with MDEQ in connection with its review of the application filed by Kennecott Eagle Minerals Company. Click to read the letter to Steven Chester (PDF)

The report issued yesterday by a “independent” retired DNR official, Dr. Donald Inman of EcoLogic Ltd, regarding the investigation into the Processing of the Kennecott Eagle Minerals Company Eagle Project Mine Application appears to us to be an institutional whitewash. Click to read the MDEQ report (PDF)

Please read our letter, read the report and then YOU decide.

Analysis: Kennecott Eagle Minerals Company Proposal

An easy-to-read 6-page analysis of the Kennecott Permit Application from the National Wildlife Foundation

Analysis: Kennecott Eagle Minerals Company Proposal

NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION®
Great Lakes Natural Resource Center
213 West Liberty Street, Suite 200
Ann Arbor MI 48104-1398
734-769-3351
U.P. Contact: Michelle Halley, 906-361-0520


Fact Sheet: Kennecott U.P Sulfide Mining Proposal

A concise update on the Kennecot Permit Application from The National Wildlife Foundation

Fact Sheet: Kennecott U.P Sulfide Mining Proposal

NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION®
Great Lakes Natural Resource Center
213 West Liberty Street, Suite 200
Ann Arbor MI 48104-1398
734-769-3351
U.P. Contact: Michelle Halley, 906-361-0520