MARQUETTE -- The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Kennecott Eagle Minerals Company (KEMC), which is seeking permits for a nickel and copper sulfide mine on the Yellow Dog Plains near Marquette, recently met to discuss the requested information on Kennecott's Land Use Lease and Mining and Reclamation Plan.
According to Tom Wellman of the DNR's Mineral and Land Management Section, "The DNR has issued a letter to Kennecott…whereby it will recommend an approval of an amended Mining and Reclamation Plan and Surface Use Lease to the Director (Rebecca Humphries) for the February 7, 2008, Natural Resources Commission Meeting."
According to Save the Wild UP, this is only a recommendation and no official action has been taken.
The Feb. 7 Natural Resources Commission Meeting will be held at the Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, 4125 Beaumont Road, Lansing.
See the updated agenda for that meeting.
Michelle Halley of the National Wildlife Federation explains, "While DNR staff continue to recommend that Director Humphries approve KEMC's surface use lease request, we urge you to let her know that this policy decision is in her hands. Sacrificing public land as corporate welfare is not acceptable to Michiganders. Please, write or call Director Humphries and urge her to protect our public lands for public use!"
At the January 10, 2008, Natural Resources Commission meeting in Lansing, the Michigan DNR announced that it was delaying its decision on approving a surface use lease for 120 acres of public land for 35 years, requested by Kennecott for the proposed sulfide mine near Marquette. The MDNR decision is the second part of the State approvals required for the mining operations. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) has already announced its approval of Kennecott’s permit to develop the sulfide mine. On December 21, 2007, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Huron Mountain Club and Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve announced they were filing a contested case petition and a lawsuit against MDEQ as the first step in a legal challenge to halt the mine.
See the Michigan DNR Web site for documents related to Kennecott's application for a surface use lease on state land.
You may express your views to DNR Director Rebecca Humphries at humphrir@michigan.gov.
Editor's Note: This information was received through Save the Wild UP. For more information and related news visit their Web site.
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