MDEQ to hold public meeting on Eagle East Mining Permit Application Amendment June 8; public comments accepted until July 6

MARQUETTE/LANSING -- The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), Oil, Gas, and Minerals Division (OGMD), will hold a public meeting from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, June 8, 2017, at the Westwood High School auditorium, 300 Westwood Drive, Ishpeming, Michigan 49849, on the Eagle Mine LLC (Eagle), Eagle East Mining Permit Application Amendment. The MDEQ will also accept written public comment on the request for amendment following the public meeting until 5 p.m. July 6, 2017.

The MDEQ received an application on March 22, 2017, from Eagle requesting approval to amend their Mining Permit MP 01 2007, issued under Part 632, Nonferrous Metallic Mineral Mining, of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451, as amended, to mine the Eagle East mineral resource. The MDEQ, OGMD, determined that the request for amendment constitutes a significant change from the conditions of the approved mine permit, and on May 5, 2017, the permittee was notified that the application was determined to be administratively complete.

According to Melanie Humphrey, geological technician in the MDEQ Marquette Office of Oil, Gas and Minerals, Upper Peninsula District, the amendment application will be reviewed in the same manner as a new permit.

"The public meeting next week is regarding a request to amend an existing permit, not another separate permit,"  Humphrey said. "Regardless, we are going through the review process as we would a new permit application, which includes a public information meeting. We will consider all comments and information in our review before making a proposed decision on the request. Before making a final decision, the MDEQ will hold a public hearing on the proposed decision. The date of the hearing will depend on when we are finished with our review."

The purpose of the June 8 meeting is to inform the public that the MDEQ has received the application for amendment request, to provide information regarding the proposed amendment and departmental review process, and to allow interested parties the opportunity to comment and/or ask questions on the proposal. To accommodate all parties that wish to provide oral comment, presentations will initially be limited to five minutes. This limit may be reduced or extended upon the discretion of the meeting facilitator. Written comments will also be received at the meeting.

Interested persons may submit written comments by mail or e-mail until 5 p.m. July 6, 2017. Mail your comments to DEQ Eagle East Permit Amendment, Office of Oil, Gas, and Minerals, 1504 West Washington Street, Marquette, MI 49855. E-mail your comments regarding the application for amendment request to the designated MDEQ mailbox at DEQ-Mining-Comments@michigan.gov, including "Eagle East Permit Amendment" as the subject. All verbal and written comments presented during the meeting and comment period will be considered prior to making a proposed decision on the request for amendment.

Click here to access the Lundin Mining Corp. Request for Amendment and other documents. Click under "Applications on File" for more information.