News & Articles Archive
Click here for a complete list of news articles. To post a comment on any article below, just click the title!
Contact:
Lisa Jackson, EPA Administrator. Email: Jackson.Lisa@epa.gov
Nancy Sutley, Council on Environmental Quality. Contact: http://www.whitehouse.gov /contact/
Sample Letter:
Dear Administrator Jackson and Chairwoman Sutley,
A generation ago, Americans made a commitment to clean up and protect our lakes, rivers and wetlands when we passed the Clean Water Act. Thanks to this commitment, lakes and streams that were once polluted are now once again safe for fishing and swimming. At the time, many argued that the economy would be injured if industry could no longer dump its untreated wastes into our nation’s waterways, but after years of strong pollution control and strong industry, it is clear that clean water is not only essential for public health, but it is good for business.
The Bush Administration’s policies on disposal of mine waste into waters of the U.S. has undermined the intent of the Clean Water Act and America’s commitment to responsibly managing our clean water. The redefinition of “Fill Material” to include waste material to be used to “fill” streams, lakes, wetlands, and other waters, has allowed for the damaging practice of mountaintop removal and the permitting of the Kensington Mine to destroy an Alaskan lake by dumping toxic, chemically processed mine tailings into it.
I am asking you to immediately revoke the Kensington mine lake dumping permits, revise the Bush Administration’s policies on disposal of mine waste into U.S. waters, and return the definition of fill to what it was before the Bush Administration.
Sincerely,
Congress:
Tell Your Congressman and Senators to support HR 1310, the Clean Water Protection Act. The Act is a bipartisan bill that would put the definition of “Fill Material” back to what it was before the Bush Administration.
More about the Clean Water Protection Act.
Who are my elected officials and how do I contact them?
Sample Letter:
Dear Congressman or Senator,
A generation ago, Americans made a commitment to clean up and protect our lakes, rivers and wetlands when we passed the Clean Water Act. Thanks to this commitment, lakes and streams that were once polluted are now once again safe for fishing and swimming. At the time, many argued that the economy would be injured if industry could no longer dump its untreated wastes into our nation’s waterways, but after years of strong pollution control and strong industry, it is clear that clean water is not only essential for public health, but it is good for business.
The Bush Administration’s policies on disposal of mine waste into waters of the U.S. has undermined the intent of the Clean Water Act and America’s commitment to responsibly managing our clean water. The redefinition of “Fill Material” to include waste material to be used to “fill” streams, lakes, wetlands, and other waters, has allowed for the damaging practice of mountaintop removal and the permitting of the Kensington Mine to destroy an Alaskan lake by dumping toxic, chemically processed mine tailings into it.
I am asking you to support HR 1310, the Clean Water Protection Act, an act that would amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to clarify that fill material cannot be comprised of waste.
Sincerely,
For more information on the Kensington mine
For more information onmountaintop removal
You are invited to participate in one of several workshops intended for anyone interested in learning about Michigan’s new water withdrawal laws and how those involved with stewardship of our water resources can play a part in the water withdrawal decision making process. These workshops are designed for three audiences: 1) local water-resource advocates (watershed groups, lake associations, environmental groups, etc.); 2) local governmental planning and zoning practitioners; and 3) community/economic development officers in local governments.
A brief review of water law in Michigan will be followed by a tutorial on some key hydrologic terms and concepts. The Water Withdrawal Assessment Process, the use of state-of-the-art online tools, and how to avoid adverse resource impacts will all be covered. An overview of the regional groundwater and surface water resources will be presented specifically for each workshop location. Lastly, we will review several example uses of the Assessment Tool for sustainable community planning and development. Dr. David Lusch (MSU Geography and Institute of Water Research) will be the primary presenter.
Schedule of Events
• MARQUETTE - Thursday, June 25
Northern Michigan University, University Center, Kaye Ave & Lee Drive, Marquette, MI 49855
• ESCANABA - Friday, June 26
Bay de Noc Community College, 2001 N Lincoln Rd, Escanaba, MI 49829-2510
• GRAYLING - Tuesday, June 30
Ramada AuSable Valley Inn & Conference Center, 2650 S I 75 Business Loop, Grayling, MI 49738
• PITTSFIELD – Thursday, July 2
Pittsfield Charter Township Offices, 6201 W. Michigan Ave., Ann Arbor MI 48108
• KALAMAZOO - Wednesday, July 8*
Christine Price Kalamazoo Public Library – 315 S. Rose St., Kalamazoo, MI 49007
• MUSKEGON – Thursday, July 9
Annis Water Resources Institute, Grand Valley State University, 740 W. Shoreline Dr., Muskegon, MI 49441
• ROCHESTER - Tuesday, July 14
Rochester Community House – Rochester Municipal Park – 816 Ludlow, Rochester, MI 48307
• PETOSKEY - Friday, July 17
Odawa Hotel, 1967 US 131 South, Petoskey, Michigan 49770
These seminars are free and open to anyone to attend. To register please visit: http://www.michigantu.org/index.php/component/content/article/28-council/75-wwat-workshops.
Seminar Agenda
8:30 – 9:00 - Registration and coffee
9:00 – 10:00 - The Great Lakes Compact: why Michigan is regulating large-quantity water withdrawals
- Brief review of Michigan Water Law
- Tutorial on some key hydrologic terms and concepts
10:00 – 10:15 break
10:15 – 12:00 - Does your community plan for sustainable water uses?
- Brief overview of the Water Withdrawal Assessment Process
· Stream-flow estimation
· Impact assessment of flow reductions on fish habitat
· Modeling groundwater – surface water interactions
- Review of the environmental criteria now used to assess “adverse resource impacts”
- Overview of the groundwater & surface water resources of the region
12:00 – 12:45 lunch (provided)
12:45 – 1:15 - Overview of the Water Withdrawal Assessment Tool (WWAT)
1:15 – 2:30 - Example uses of the WWAT for sustainable community development
2:30 – 3:00 - Wrap-up questions and answers
These free educational seminars are brought to you by the following organizations;
The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited Rio Tinto to respond to concerns
raised in the following items:
− Report by Jack Parker & Associates, “KEMC Eagle Project, Marquette, Michigan,” April 2009
− Save the Wild UP news release, NEW MINE REPORT: Kennecott Mine Application Incompetent or Fraudulent?, May 11, 2009
Rio Tinto responded to the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre regarding concerns about the company’s Upper Peninsula, Michigan, U.S. Eagle nickel and copper project on 6 May 2009. Rio Tinto would like to thank the Centre for the opportunity to respond to the related items above.
Click here to read the entire letter
The Canadian Federal Court decision requires Environment Canada to make the mining industry annually report the toxic waste accumulating in tailings ponds and waste rock piles.
John Jackson
Great Lakes United
Great Lakes United and Mining Watch Canada, with the legal assistance of Ecojustice, have won a court case, forcing Environment Canada to require the mining industry to annually report the toxic substances put into tailings ponds and waste rock piles to a public inventory. This means that approximately 20 metal mining facilities located on the Canadian side of the Great Lakes basin will have to report their waste. This court decision will allow us to more completely understand threats to the Great Lakes basin as a result of mining activities.
Ecojustice launched the suit in November, 2007 on behalf of Great Lakes United and Mining Watch Canada. On April 23 2009 the Canadian Federal Court issued an order requiring the federal government to immediately begin publicly reporting mining pollution data from 2006 onward to the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI).
The strongly worded decision described the government’s decision-making pace as “glacial” and chastised the government for turning a “blind eye” to the issue and dragging its feet for “more than 16 years”.
In response to the Canadian Minister of the Environment’s failure to require reporting, the Honourable Mr. Justice Russell concluded, “the result is that the people of Canada do not have a national inventory of releases of pollutants that will allow them to assess the state of the Canadian environment and take whatever measures they feel are appropriate to protect the environment and facilitate the protection of human health.”
In contrast, since 1998, the U.S. government has required mining companies to report all pollutants under the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), the U.S. equivalent of the NPRI. In 2005, the 72 mines in the U.S. reporting to the TRI released more than 500 million kilograms of toxic substances to mine tailings and waste rock. This accounted for 27% of all U.S. pollutants reported. The addition of the Canadian data will give us a more complete picture of the mining threat in the Great Lakes.
Toxics leak through tailings ponds walls and evaporate into the air on an ongoing basis. As climate change threatens to bring more frequent and increasingly intense storms, the potential for tailings ponds’ walls to collapse increases. This means toxic tailings rushing out into the environment and into the lakes. Such devastating collapses of tailings ponds have already occurred in Europe and in the coal mining area of the U.S.
The decision also means that the public will have to be told about the devastating toxic discharges to the massive tailings ponds created by mining the tar sands in Alberta. The product of tar sands development—one of the largest industrial undertakings in the world—is being touted as the source of oil for proposed expansions of oil refineries throughout the Great Lakes in locations such as Superior, Wisconsin, Gary, Indiana, Detroit, and Sarnia.
Now that we will have knowledge on the toxic contents of these tailings ponds and rock piles on both sides of the Great Lakes basin, we will be more capable of pressuring for action to protect the Great Lakes from these threats.
Environment Canada has stated that they will move quickly to implement the judge’s decision.
jjackson@glu.org
To read the entire legal judgement, click on http://www.glu.org/en/node/293.
Conservationists announce intent to file lawsuit over water pollution from Flambeau Mine
Earlier this week, a Wisconsin conservation group and two individuals formally notified the Flambeau Mining Company (FMC) and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) that they intend to file a lawsuit over water pollution caused by the partially reclaimed Flambeau Mine, near Ladysmith, Wisconsin, unless the pollution and related issues are fully addressed within 30 days by FMC and the DNR.
The formal notification letter was sent to FMC and the DNR by Attorney Glenn M. Stoddard of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, on behalf of the Wisconsin Resources Protection Council (WRPC), Al Gedicks and Laura Furtman.
According to Stoddard: “The notice letter and potential lawsuit is based on the monitoring data that has been collected by FMC and provided to the DNR and WRPC. The data shows that runoff from the Flambeau Mine is in violation of applicable surface water quality standards and is illegally polluting a nearby stream and the Flambeau River. The data also shows that groundwater at the mine site is polluted and, at a minimum, requires expanded monitoring. However, the DNR has failed to properly regulate FMC and has, instead, allowed the company to violate the law and portray the Flambeau Mine as an environmental success story when it is not.”
The WRPC is a conservation organization that was founded in 1982 to address concerns over mining in northern Wisconsin. Al Gedicks, of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, is WRPC’s Executive Secretary and he is also one of the two individuals bringing the case.
“It appears that FMC has been glossing over its own data in order to claim that the Flambeau Mine is an environmental success story, when the data actually shows that the Mine is causing pollution just as we had predicted before it was permitted by the DNR back in 1991. We are pursuing this case now in order to bring out the truth and hold both FMC and the DNR legally accountable for the damage being done to our environment by the Flambeau Mine.”
Laura Furtman, of Webster, Wisconsin, is the other individual bringing the case. Furtman said: “I am concerned about the DNR’s lax approach to enforcement and FMC’s poor science and claims of environmental success, because this sends the wrong message to people in northern Wisconsin and other areas that are faced with new mining proposals. The facts show that the Flambeau Mine is anything but a success and is, instead, a serious environmental problem that neither the DNR nor FMC want to acknowledge publicly.”
The Flambeau Mine, located in Rusk County, Wisconsin, was an open pit metallic sulfide mine that produced 181,000 tons of copper, 334,000 ounces of gold and 3.3 million ounces of silver over its four‐year life span (1993‐1997). The Flambeau River formed the western boundary of the project area, and the pit itself was constructed to within 150 feet of the river. In late 1997, the 32‐acre pit was backfilled with waste rock containing heavy metals, sulfides and sludge.
According to Dr. David Chambers, an expert in geophysics who reviewed FMC’s water quality data for WRPC, there are problems with both surface water and groundwater pollution at the Flambeau Mine site. In particular, a major area of concern involves a small tributary of the Flambeau River known as “Stream C.”
When FMC closed the mine, a drainage ditch and pond were constructed to collect polluted runoff coming from the mine site, and a second ditch was constructed to convey that water to Stream C. According to Chambers, who is the President of the Center for Science in Public Participation out of Bozeman, Montana, “Copper levels in Stream C exceed Wisconsin water quality standards both at the discharge point from the pond into Stream C and from Stream C as it flows into the Flambeau River.” He added, “The latest round of data I’ve seen shows copper levels about seven times higher than the Wisconsin standard at the pond’s outlet.”
A second issue relates to groundwater pollution at the Flambeau Mine site. Dr. Kendra Zamzow, an environmental chemist who works with Chambers, analyzed contaminant levels in a well drilled in the path of water flowing from the backfilled pit to the Flambeau River. She said: “There have been consistent and statistically significant violations of 1991 Flambeau Mine permit standards in this well, which is about 125 feet from the river. The heavy metal manganese, for example, is currently registering over four times higher than the permit standard”
WRPC has also taken issue with FMC’s monitoring program for tracking the biological effects of metals making their way into the Flambeau River from the mine site. The group enlisted the help of Dr. Ken Parejko, an aquatic biologist and Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin‐Stout, to evaluate FMC’s biological studies.
Parejko concluded that there were serious flaws in the company’s study design, making it “difficult to draw any conclusions regarding the presence or absence of a mining‐related effect” on the Flambeau River. Yet, he added, “The combined observation of statistically significant increased copper concentrations in crayfish, walleye and sediment downstream from the mine site raises the possibility of a causal relationship.”
The conservationists are seeking a number of remedies for the pollution at the mine from the DNR and FMC, including but not limited to more restrictive permitting requirements, fines, remedial action, and increased monitoring at the site and in the Flambeau River.
More information and complete copies of the formal Notice Letter and supporting expert reports are available on WRPC’s website at: www.wrpc.net
What: Great Lakes ‘Walk, Paddle, and Roll’ Fundraising Event
Wilderness Orienteering
When: Saturday, July 12, 2009, 12:00 noon
Where: Big Bay, MI
To Join a Team visit www.firstgiving.com/freshwaterfuture
To donate and help support the SWUP team, visit www.firstgiving.com/savethewildup
For More Information Contact:
|
|
|
 |
Join the staff and supporters of Save the Wild UP, Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve and Freshwater Future in a Great Lakes Walk, Paddle, and Roll Fundraising event! There will be three events throughout the summer, including an orienteering event to be held on Sunday, July 12 in Big Bay as well as a biking event in August in Marquette. All funds raised will be used to support environmental outreach and educational activities and similar efforts around the Great Lakes region.
Participants may choose to enjoy any event or all three. Participants can either solicit pledges by setting up an individualized website on http://www.firstgiving.com/freshwaterfuture or donate directly to the organizations. This website is a convenient way for individuals to help raise funds for these organizations, or to donate directly to their fundraising efforts.
Here in Marquette County and across the western UP, the threat of sulfide and uranium mining continues with increased levels of exploration. Now, more than ever, it is critical that we work together to ensure the health of our community’s environment and the Great Lakes for our children, grandchildren and future generations.
“Paddle Independence will be a fun opportunity for families and friends to explore this beautiful area and help raise funds to protect our water resources,” said Kristi Mills of Save the Wild UP. “Weather permitting, we will paddle around a good portion of the lake while identifying landmarks such as the Iron River Dam, mouth of the Johnson Creek and Yellow Dog River and scenic high points visible from the water. It will be a fun day!” said Emily Whittaker of YDWP. “We hope to see all of the very supportive community members participate in this worthwhile event.”
We would like to thank all of our sponsors John G. Shedd Aquarium, Grand Traverse Casino and Resort, and Big Bay Outfitters.
To celebrate Michigan’s vast and precious water resources, Governor Granholm has declared June 6 - June 14 as Water Week 2009.
Let the Governor know how you feel about protecting our fresh water resources from the threat of sulfide mining in the Upper Peninsula. Click here for the full announcement and contact information
Rio Tinto Group has scrapped a planned $19.5 billion investment by Aluminum Corp. of China, or Chinalco, and will instead seek to raise $21 billion from a share sale and by selling iron ore assets to BHP Billiton Ltd.
The world’s No. 3 miner announced the new deal Friday, after the Chinese-state owned steelmaker rejected amendments to its initial agreement, leading to a breakdown in talks.
Click here to read the entire article
The annual Kirtland’s Warbler singing male survey of the US Fish & Wildlife Service will be conducted June 6th through June 15th for the entire Upper Peninsula.
Interested volunteers for the Yellow Dog Plains survey can contact Nancy Moran by calling the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve at 906-345-9223. Surveyors will meet daily at 7:00 am at the intersection of Co Rd 510 and the AAA Road. Maps of the survey area and instructions will be provided. (Water, bug spray, and a compass/GPS are recommended supplies)
The survey is conducted by driving or hiking this large area, listening for birds and investigating singing warblers.
If you are interested in participating in the survey of other areas of the UP, contact Christie Deloria at USFW, 906-226-1240.
Adult Description of the Kirtland’s Warbler
- Small songbird; large warbler.
- Bluish gray face and back.
- Yellow throat, chest, and belly.
- Black stripes down sides.
- White crescents above and below eyes.
- Constantly pumps its tail.
- Two white wingbars.
Immature Description
Similar to adult female, but duller, and with black spotting across chest.
A rare bird of the Michigan jack pine forests, the Kirtland’s Warbler is dependant upon fire to provide the small trees and open areas that meet its rigid habitat requirements for nesting.
Save the Wild U.P. Celebrates 5 years
Group plans summer of fundraising
By CHRISTOPHER DIEM Journal Staff Writer
POSTED: May 14, 2009
MARQUETTE -Members of the environmental group Save the Wild UP are celebrating the organization’s fifth anniversary by enjoying that which they strive to protect - the Upper Peninsula wilderness.
Members and supporters of Save the Wild UP -along with partner organizations Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve and Freshwater Future -are putting on a summerlong fundraising event called Great Lakes Walk, Paddle and Roll.
The event kicks off on June 6 with a 5-mile paddle around Lake Independence, continues on July 12 with an orienteering event in Big Bay and a biking event in August in Marquette.
“It’s a really positive way to get people out and enjoying the out-of-doors,” said Kristi Mills, director of Save the Wild UP.
She said participants can either solicit pledges by setting up a Web site at www.firstgiving.com/freshwaterfuture or donate directly to the organizations. All proceeds will support environmental outreach and educational activities around the Great Lakes region.
Babette Welch, board president and co-founder of Save the Wild U.P., said she and Dick Huey of Marquette started the organization to protect the open land and access to water, hunting, fishing, biking and hiking widely available in the U.P.
“We saw that that was becoming at risk … because many of the large tracts of land were coming up for sale and being sold. We were also concerned when we saw this proposed proliferation of mines,” Welch said.
The organization is strongly opposed to Kennecott’s proposed Eagle Mine on the Yellow Dog Plains. In February, Kennecott’s parent company, Rio Tinto, deferred the mine project until market conditions improve.
Welch said members of the organization will continue to oppose the mine project but will also begin new efforts to preserve the water and land in the area, encourage activity in the outdoors and try to promote economic development while protecting the environment.
“Everyone recognizes water is going to be one of the next real in-demand resources on the planet, and preserving the quality of the water in the Great Lakes is critical,” Welch said.
Save the Wild U.P. staff compiled data from Michigan courthouses and environmental protection advocacy Web sites in assembling a Lake Superior-area map showing the locations of proposed metallic sulfide mining sites and proposed metallic sulfide/uranium exploration and mining sites.
“These are all near watersheds too, so that’s a big concern,” Mills said about the exploration sites.
Mills said there is uranium mining exploration going on near the Ottawa National Forest.
“That’s some scary stuff to a lot of people who know a little bit about the dangers of radioactive materials and the handling of those,” she said.
Welch said the organization also wants to educate the public about surface-owners’ rights.
“The rights of surface owners have been divorced from the mineral rights and right now mineral rights trump surface owners,” she said, adding people’s homes and camps could be affected. “If mining companies want to develop the mineral rights underneath them, mining companies can come in and build a road, put a building, put a vent shaft, whatever they need to access those minerals.”
Members of Save the Wild U.P. support only non-violent opposition to Kennecott’s and other proposed mining activities. In a recent news release, the organization said it will not condone or tolerate violence and will take legal action if the organization or its members are targets of violence.
|
Help Save the Wild UP
Your contributions are urgently needed to continue our efforts. Please click below and donate what you can!
Search our Site
Learn More
|
