Public Comment Period still Open on the Land Use Lease.
Even though the comment period has ended for the mining permit, concerned citizens can still send letters to the DNR's Natural Resource Commission (NRC) on the “Metallic Mineral Mining Operations Surface Use Lease.”
Kennecott wants to lease 120 acres of public land for 35 years from the state of Michigan to use for most of the surface facilities associated with their proposed mine. The NRC will discuss this permit at its regular meeting, on December 6, 2007, with a possible decision at the January, 2008 meeting.
The next NRC meeting will be on Jan. 10, 2008 (Click here to see the agenda)
Kennecott has yet to receive approval from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality for its Mining, Air and Groundwater Discharge permits, as well as a Wetlands Permit. Also, the EPA has yet to issue an Underground Injection Control (UIC) permit and the Mining Safety Health Administration has not yet received a permit application. These permits must be fulfilled before the DNR considers the Surface Use Lease, which would close off 120 acres of state land to the public for 35 years.
Please take some time read the online letter, add your own comments, sign and e-mail to the DNR. We also ask that you print the letter and send it to each NRC commissioner and the Director of the DNR. If you have difficulty with the online version a printable version is attached below.
Contact Info for NRC Commissioners
Letter to be personalized and printed
Surface Lease Map
4 Comments
Say "Na" to the Kennecott Mine.
This company Kennecott, and its' parent, Rio Tinto, will not stop until the entire Huron Mountain Range, and the Yellow Dog Plains, is devastated, period. So, we are to allow a multi-national structure to come in, destroy our heritage, and leave pocket change and destruction???
I remember when Yoopers wanted to secede from the state, if not the nation. Some folks still talk about it. And yet, here we are with an even bigger monkey on our back, threatening the land. Right now, with this permit approved, do not think that other permits will not simply follow, regardless of legal measures in the wings to stop them. In fact, the semblance of a workable legal remedy only furthers to water down the active force necessary to mobilize passive non-violence.
This is possibly one of the biggest fights of its' kind in the United States, at this time. IT has everything to do with what the PEOPLE will suffer for want of a big company's profits. And NONE of it will trickle down to the folks who live in Marquette, except for nickle pollution !!
Mobilize now, let us get commitments from folks who will non-violently stand in the way, right there at Eagle Rock, when that time comes, because it will.
Having been an Environment Michigan member for some time now, when I heard Mike Waite's song about the Eagle Project, I felt I had to know more.
Over the last day or so I've become very passionate about this cause, after much reading, thought, and a renewal of my love for Michigan's great wilds.
I can say without equivocation that I'd like to be there on Eagle Ridge in solidarity, and by this, I mean the non-violent standing-in-the-way variety when the time comes.
Peace and Justice,
Justinian
David (or anyone) is there a sign up or forum for the stand in at eagle rock? There are lots of ready to fight back non-violently and we need to organize now ahead of time. Good idea and THANKS!
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