Updated: MDEQ to hold public hearing on Orvana Copperwood Project TONIGHT, June 28, in Ironwood

LANSING -- Today, Thursday, June 28, 2012, is the final day of the public comment period for Orvana Resources US Corp’s proposed installation and operation of a copper mining and ore processing facility known as the "Copperwood Project." a public hearing will be held TONIGHT, June 28, 2012, starting at 7 p.m. C.D.T. at Gogebic Community College, Lindquist Student Center -- Courtside Dining Area, 2nd Floor, E-4946 Jackson Road, Ironwood, Michigan. The sole purpose of the public hearing will be to take formal testimony on the record. During testimony, questions will not be answered; however, staff will be available to answer questions outside the hearing room.

Prior to the hearing, an informational session will be held from 5:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. C.D.T. also at Gogebic Community College, Lindquist Student Center -- Courtside Dining Area, 2nd Floor, E-4946 Jackson Road, Ironwood, Michigan. Staff will provide a brief introduction regarding the proposed project and will be available to answer questions.

The facility is proposed to be located in Ironwood (T49N R46W) and Wakefield (T49N R45W) Townships, Gogebic County, Michigan. The public comment period and hearing are to allow all interested parties the opportunity to comment on the Department’s proposed conditional approval of a Permit to Install (PTI). It has been preliminarily determined that the installation of the Copperwood Project will not violate any of the Department’s rules nor the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The facility’s impact will not exceed 80 percent of the available increments for sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter less than ten microns.

According to Steve Casey, MDEQ Water Resources Division district supervisor of the Upper Peninsula District Office, who will be chairing the meeting, the Public Hearing is for the Air Quality, Wetlands and Inland Lakes and Streams permits.

"We will have the staff person who is preparing the NPDES water discharge permit in attendance too," Casey said. "So the public will be able to comment on air, water, wetland/inland lakes and streams issues (which will cover tailings placement)."

Update: The deadline for written comments on the water, wetland/inland lakes and streams permit is July 8, 2012.

Casey gave a general description of the Copperwood project at the Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District annual meeting in March 2012. Here is a video clip from his presentation at that meeting:

During the Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District annual meeting in March, 2012, Steve Casey, MDEQ Water Resources Division district supervisor of the Upper Peninsula District Office, gives a brief overview of the Orvana Copperwood project for a copper mine near Wakefield, Mich. Casey will chair the public hearing on permits for the project -- to be held TONIGHT, June 28, at Gogebic Community College in Ironwood.

Detailed information on the Copperwood project can be found in the Feasibility Study posted on the Orvana Web site and in the permit application on the MDEQ Web site.

Written comments should be addressed to Ms. Mary Ann Dolehanty, Permit Section Supervisor, MDEQ, AQD, P.O. Box 30260, Lansing, Michigan, 48909-7760. Comments may also be submitted from the webpage: http://www.deq.state.mi.us/aps/cwerp.shtml  (click on "Submit Comment" under the Orvana Resources US Corp, Permit to Install No. 180-11 listing). All statements received by June 28, 2012, will be considered by the decision-maker prior to final permit action.

Editor's Note: We originally posted the announcement of this hearing and public comment period on June 10, 2012. This is a reminder. Click here for the original article.