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WIMS Special |
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Note: Special Reports are updated periodically here; Updated: June 6, 2008 Click Here
for details on WIMS Information Service Products Kennecott Eagle Mine Proposal & Related Activities Important Links
Federal Legislation
WIMS Articles
Comment On ESA
Petition To List Coaster Brook Trout - Mar 20, 2008: Access
the complete FR announcement (click
here). Access the FWS Docket to submit and review comments,
etc. (click
here). Access additional information on the Coaster Brook Trout
from FWS (click
here). Access the actual 56-page petition to the FWS on Coaster
Brook Trout (click
here).
MDNR Approves
Land Lease & Reclamation Plan For Kennecott Mine - Feb 7,
2008: Access a release from Kennecott (click
here). Access a release from NWF (click
here). Access the MDEQ OGS
Eagle Mine Information website for links to additional information (click
here). Access the MDEQ Kennecott website for the Metallic Mineral
Mining Operations Surface Use Lease Revised 01/28/08 (click
here). Access the NRC Agenda for links to the Kennecott Mining
and Reclamation Plan and Surface Use List (click
here, scroll down to
Director's Action Items).
U.S. EPA Continues Kennecott
UIC Permit Review - Jan 14, 2008: EPA's Phillippa Cannon of the Office
of Public Affairs told WIMS on January 14 that, "EPA is in the process of
reviewing the Underground Injection Control permit application, including
whether any additional federal laws or regulations might impact construction
activities." Access EPA's announcement of the Kennecott UIC permit
requirement
(click
here).
Scholars Urge
Governor & NRC To Oppose Kennecott Mine - Dec 17, 2007. Access
a posted release from the professors (click
here). Access the letter to the Governor including the list of
signers (click
here). Access the NRC January 10, 2008 agenda with links to the
staff recommendations (click
here, page 2). Access the
71-page Kennecott Mining and Reclamation Plan and MDNR comments (click
here). Access the 5-page staff memo recommending approval (click
here). Access a release from the groups on their legal actions (click
here).
Kennecott Receives MDEQ Mine, Air & Groundwater Permits - Dec 14, 2007:
Access a release from Kennecott (click
here).
Access the
MDEQ OGS Eagle Mine Information website for links to additional information
including
all permit changes and supporting information
(click
here). Access a release from
MDEQ (click
here).
Kennecott Commits To Mine Air Filtration System - Oct. 18, 2007: Access a release from Kennecott (click here). Access the Kennecott Eagle Mine website for additional information (click here). NWF Says Kennecott
Eagle Project "Too Risky" - Oct 18, 2007: Access a release from
NWF (click
here). Access the MDEQ OGS Eagle Mine Information website for links
to additional information (click
here).
New U.P. Group Supports
Kennecott Mine Proposal - Oct 17, 2007: Access the Citizens for
Responsible Mining website for additional information (click
here). Access various media reports (click
here). Access the MDEQ OGS Eagle Mine Information website for links
to additional information (click
here).
Kennecott Mine
Opponents Pleased With Hearings - Sep 17, 2007: Access a release
from Save the Wild UP (click
here). Access an article from the Marquette Mining Journal (click
here).
Kennecott Mine Proposal: Updated Hearing & Document Notice - Aug 6: MDEQ has issued an updated public hearing notice for the Kennecott Eagle Project proposed nickel and copper mine to be located in Michigamme Township, Marquette County, Michigan, about 30 miles northwest of Marquette. MDEQ has expanded the sessions for the three public hearings scheduled for: September 10 (Northern Michigan University); September 13 (old K.I. Sawyer AFB); and September 19 (Lansing). MDEQ has also updated various permit documents as indicated and linked below. Written comments may be submitted by mail or e-mail until 5:00 PM, October 17, 2007.
Access the updated Public
Hearing Notice for details and
locations (click
here). Access the
updated Part 632 Nonferrous
Metallic Minerals Permit
Conditions (click
here). Access the updated
Air Quality Permit documents (click
here). Access the updated
groundwater discharge permit (click
here). Access the updated
MDNR metallic mineral lease (click
here).
Access the MDEQ OGS Eagle Mine
Information website for links to
additional information (click
here). Access the
WIMS-EcoBizPort Special Report on
the Kennecott Mining Proposal for
previous WIMS articles, links and
background information (click
here). [*MIAll]
Enviros React To MDEQ
Kennecott Approval - Jul
30: Michigan environmental groups,
including Michigan Environmental
Council (MEC), Michigan League of
Conservation Voters Education Fund
and the Sierra Club’s Michigan
Chapter, reacted immediately to the
MDEQ's announcement of its
preliminary approval of the
Kennecott Eagle Project near
Marquette [See WIMS 7/30/07]. The
groups called the proposal "flawed"
and said it "ignores gaping
shortcomings in the mining safety
plan and puts the region’s economy
and natural resources at risk."
MDEQ
Preliminarily
Approves
Kennecott
Application;
Hearings Set
- Jul 30:
MDEQ and the
Michigan
Department
of Natural
Resources
(MDNR)
announced
they will
hold a
consolidated
public
hearing on
the
Kennecott
Eagle
Project near
Marquette on
September 11
and 12; and
another
hearing in
Lansing on
September
19, 2007.
The highly
controversial
Project
is a
proposed
nickel and
copper mine
and
associated
processing
equipment
located in
Sections 11
and 12,
T50N, R29W,
Michigamme
Township,
Marquette
County,
Michigan,
about 30
miles
northwest of
Marquette.
Kennecott
Eagle
Minerals
Company,
Marquette,
Michigan,
submitted
the
applications
for the
Kennecott
Eagle
Project
pursuant to
State
regulations.
In addition
to comments
received at
the
hearings,
comments
presented by
October 17,
2007, will
be
considered
prior to
final
action.
The
purpose of
the hearing
is to allow
all
interested
parties the
opportunity
to comment
on the
following
proposed
actions: 1)
the proposed
conditional
approval of
the MDEQ
Draft
Michigan Air
Use Permit
for the
installation
and
operation of
the process;
2) the
proposed
approval of
the MDEQ
draft
Groundwater
Discharge
Permit for
the
discharge of
Mine Contact
Water; 3)
the proposed
decision to
grant MDEQ
Nonferrous
Metallic
Mineral
Mining
Permit
Application
for
operation
and
reclamation
and draft
permit; 4)
the proposed
MDNR draft
State Land
Lease
Agreement
for surface
use of State
land for the
proposed
production
facility;
and; 5) the
proposed
draft Mine
Reclamation
Plan
pursuant to
Kennecott's
metallic
mineral
lease with
the MDNR.
The hearing
will be
recorded.
Throughout
the hearing
hours,
technical
staff of the
MDEQ and
MDNR will be
available in
an area
adjacent to
hearing room
to answer
questions
regarding
the
Departments’
reviews and
proposed
actions. In
order to
accommodate
the
anticipated
number of
speakers,
presentations
will be
limited to
five
minutes.
Written
comments
will also be
received at
the hearing.
MDEQ/MDNR
have also
prepared a
3-page
Public
Hearing
Overview
document
that
provides a
summary of
the various
permits and
the
procedures
to be
followed at
the
hearings.
MDEQ has
also issued
a 3-page Proposed
Decision
document to
grant a
Mining
Permit to
Kennecott
Eagle
Minerals
Company
(Kennecott)
for the
proposed
Eagle
Project mine
in
Michigamme
Township,
Marquette
County. The
proposed
decision is
issued under
the
provisions
of Section
63205 (MCL
324 63205)
of Part 632,
Nonferrous
Metallic
Mineral
Mining, of
the Natural
Resources
and
Environmental
Protection
Act, 1994 PA
451, as
amended
(NREPA).
MDEQ has
indicated,
"The DEQ has
conducted a
detailed and
comprehensive
review and
evaluation
of the
permit
application
and
supplemental
information
submitted by
Kennecott,
and of all
public
comments it
has received
thus far.
Based on all
information
available at
this time,
the DEQ has
determined
that the
application
appears to
meet the
requirements
for approval
under Part
632.
This is a
preliminary
decision."
MDEQ will consider additional information and comments from the public hearings and comment period and indicates that
Part 632
requires it
to then
issue a
final
decision on
the Mining
Permit on or
before
November 14,
2007;
however, the
final
decision
date may be
extended if
MDEQ
requires
additional
information
from
Kennecott
based on
questions
raised by
public
comments.
Final
decisions on
the
Groundwater
Discharge
and Air Use
Permits, and
on the MDNR
surface
lease, will
also be made
subsequent
to the
hearing. The
Proposed
Decision
document
also
provides a
brief
background
of the
Kennecott
permit
application
and reviews
and events
that have
taken place
thus far.
Access
the public
hearing
notice with
complete
details on
times and
locations of
the hearings
(click
here).
Access the
Public
Hearing
Overview
document (click
here).
Access the
Proposed
Decision
document (click
here).
Access the
MDEQ
Kennecott
Project
website for
all
documents (click
here).
Access the
WIMS-EcoBizPort
Special
Report on
the
Kennecott
Mining
Proposal for
previous WIMS
articles, links
and
background
information
(click
here). [*All]
Kennecott Eagle Project Update - Jul 2: MDEQ Geological Survey Division has provided notice that it has added a new report to the Kennecott Eagle Project website entitled, Review of the Evaluation of Crown Pillar Stability for the Proposed Eagle Mine. The report by Report by Dr. Wilson Blake is a review of the data and conclusions about mine safety and stability of the proposed Kennecott Eagle Project that have been made by Dr. David Sainsbury for Itasca Consulting Group Inc. and Golder Associates Ltd.
According to
the Executive
Summary of the
report,
"Kennecott
Eagle Minerals
has submitted
a Mining
Permit
Application
for their
Eagle Project
in the
"The
concern with
respect to
crown pillar
stability for
the mining
plan presented
in the 2006
Mining Permit
Application
for the Eagle
Project of
Kennecott
Minerals was
warranted.
The initial
geotechnical
work did not
establish a
stable crown
pillar, and
there was
insufficient
geotechnical
and
hydrological
data available
to determine
the subsidence
and
hydrological
response due
to mining.
"Subsequent
geotechnical
work has
resulted in
establishing
an upper
mining
elevation
limit that
will allow for
mining to be
carried out
below and not
have any
effect on the
surface. The
Mining Permit
Application
for the Eagle
Project has
been modified
to incorporate
this upper
mining limit
(Phase 3).
Additional
geotechnical
data
collection
will take
place during
mining and a
Phase 3 crown
pillar study
will be
carried
out. The
Itasca
Consulting
Group has
endorsed the
revised Mining
Permit
Application.
"I concur with
Access the Kennecott Eagle Project website (click here). Access the complete 8-page report (click here). Access the WIMS-EcoBizPort Special Report on the Kennecott Mining Proposal for, previous WIMS articles, links and background information (click here). Investigation Concludes No Staff Violations In Kennecott Review - May 15: MDEQ has posted documents from an independent review of the procedures and processes that led to important documents not being made public in the review of the Kennecott Eagle Minerals Company Eagle Project Mine Application.
On March 1,
2007, in a
surprising
announcement,
MDEQ announced
it had withdrawn
its highly
controversial
proposed
decision to
approve the
Kennecott Eagle
Minerals
Company permit
for the proposed
Eagle Project
Mine 25 miles
northwest of
Marquette. The
decision was
made after MDEQ
became aware
that two adverse
reports on the
structural
integrity of the
mine were not
made part of the
public record or
given a
comprehensive
technical
review.
Simultaneously,
MDEQ postponed
the public
hearings that
had
been scheduled
for March 6-8 in
Marquette and
March 12 in
Lansing. MDEQ
also announced
at that time
it would be
undertaking an
extensive
procedural
review to
determine how
the documents
were not
immediately
given the proper
consideration
and to ensure
that there is a
complete public
record of
information
related to the
mining proposal
and its review.
On March
8, several major
Michigan
environmental
organizations
called for the
"reassignment"
of MDEQ's top
mining
regulator,
Geological
Survey Division
Chief Hal Fitch.
The documents,
dated April 30,
and May 1, 2007
(just posted)
include: a Report
from Dr. Donald
Inman of EcoLogic
Ltd regarding the
investigation into
the Processing of
the Kennecott
Eagle Minerals
Company Eagle
Project Mine
Application; a
1-page Summary of
Review from
Department of
Human Services,
Office of Labor
Relations
regarding the
investigation into
the Processing of
the Kennecott
Eagle Minerals
Company Eagle
Project Mine
Application; and
an Appendix to
EcoLogic
Report (16 MB).
The Inman report
includes a number
of recommendations
for improvements
to the review
process.
According to
the 1-page
summary, "It has
been determined
that there is no
evidence to
conclude any
violations
occurred in the
processing of
the...
Application.
Specifically, Mr.
Joe Maki, did not
act with malice or
deliberate
disregard of
public interest
when he
deleted/disposed a
document (or
documents)
prepared by Dr.
David
Sainsbury(Itasca),
one labeled May,
2006 and another
labeled May 2006
with the word
(Draft) inscribed
on it. Further,
there is no
evidence that any
other employee was
involved in the
deleting/discarding
or the document(s)...
My findings also
concur with the
findings of the
report completed
by Dr. Don Inman."
Access the
8-page Report from
Don Inman (click
here).
Access the 1-page
Summary (click
here).
Access the
407-page Appendix
(click
here).
[*MIAll]
Former
Governor Milliken
Opposes Kennecott Mine
Proposal -
May 16: Former
Republican Governor
Bill Milliken
(1969-1982) speaks out
in the Detroit Free
Press with a
commentary on the
highly controversial
proposed Kennecott
Eagle Minerals
Company nickel mining
operations at the
Eagle Project mine 25
miles northwest of
Marquette.
On March 1,
2007, in a surprising
announcement,
MDEQ announced it had
withdrawn its highly
controversial proposed
decision to approve
the Kennecott Eagle
Minerals
Company permit for the
proposed Eagle Project
Mine 25 miles
northwest of
Marquette. The
decision was made
after MDEQ became
aware that two adverse
reports on the
structural integrity
of the mine were not
made part of the
public record or given
a comprehensive
technical review.
Simultaneously, MDEQ
postponed the public
hearings that had
been scheduled for
March 6-8 in Marquette
and March 12 in
Lansing.
Access the
Milliken commentary (click
here). Access
the WIMS-EcoBizPort
Special Report on the
Kennecott Mining
Proposal for,
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