From Save the Wild UP:
MARQUETTE -- Rio Tinto released on Feb. 12, 2009, a 38-page press release which discusses the company's 2008 fiscal performance. Buried in one paragraph on page 10 of the release, is Rio Tinto's statement that "the development of the Eagle nickel mine in Michigan" has been "deferred until market conditions recover."
Jon Cherry of Kennecott Minerals prepared a statement which reads as follows:
"It is important to note that the Eagle project is one of many projects that add value to Rio Tinto. As market conditions continue to impact all industries, the Eagle team remains focused on realizing the inherent value of the project. We are continuing to work on our permits, litigation, and engineering design so that when the opportunity presents itself we will be poised to evaluate economic conditions and our next steps. The roughly 25 employees that are part of the Eagle project are integral to the ongoing activates in the U.P. These positions remain unchanged as we continue to focus on efforts and activities related to Eagle mine, Humboldt mill, and ongoing exploration activities."
The fact is Kennecott finished their drilling activities for 2008 in December and laid off the young drill crew and security personnel indefinitely. Their plans for "full steam ahead" have been slowed not only by the weather, but by Rio Tinto's uncertaintly to proceed as planned.
The Eagle permit application has been criticized by experts in the field as being "worthless." The testimony given in the contested case against the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Department of Natural Resources (DNR) proves that these agencies did not follow the law when evaluating and approving the mine permit. Thousands of citizens have signed petitions, written letters and testified before the DEQ in efforts to bring attention to this project. Rio Tinto has not responded to the overwhelming public protest against Eagle project and remains isolated in London from these real issues surrounding Eagle.
Click here for the Rio Tinto Press Release.
DEQ to hold public meeting in Humboldt Feb. 18
Concerned citizens will get a chance on Wed., Feb. 18, to voice their opinions on Kennecott's plans to re-open the old Humboldt Mill at a public meeting hosted by Michigan's Department of Environmental Quality.
Kennecott Minerals bought the property last September with plans to process ore from its proposed Eagle Project. Without legal permits to develop Eagle, the company continues to push permits for this processing facility, which was not part of the original mine plan. The DEQ would have to approve Kennecott's application before the company could reopen the facility.
The meeting schedule is as follows:
Location: Humboldt Township Hall
Time and Date: Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009
1 p.m. - 2 p.m. -- Informal Question and Answer
2:15 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. -- Formal Testimony
6 p.m. - 7 p.m. -- Informal Question and Answer
7:15 p.m. - ? Formal Testimony
Directions: Hwy 41 to M95. M95 south, 1 block, turn west on County Road FA. Follow signs to the Hall. Click here for map to Humboldt Township Hall.
This is the start of the public comment process on the Humboldt Mill. Additional meetings and hearings will be scheduled as the decision making process continues.
The DEQ is accepting written comments until 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 18, 2009.
Letters should be sent to:
Kennecott Humboldt Mill Comments
DEQ Office of Geological Survey
P. O. Box 30256
Lansing MI 48909
To comment by email on the Kennecott Humboldt Mill Project, lease use the email
DEQ-Kennecott-Humboldt-Mill-comments@michigan.gov
Editor's Note: See a recent article on Northwoodswild.org by Gabriel Caplett, "Wiggle Worm: How Kennecott Got Off-the-Hook," concerning sediment Kennecott released in the Salmon Trout River, endangering the coaster brook trout.
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