MDEQ extends comment period on Back 40 Mining Permit Amendment request to Feb. 15, 2019

Scenic view of the Menominee River near the proposed site of Aquila Resources' Back 40 open-pit sulfide mine. Following a Jan. 9, 2019, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) public meeting on Aquila's request for a Mining Permit Amendment, many concerned citizens, Native and non-Native, asked DEQ to extend the comment period on the amendment request. It has now been extended to 5 p.m. on Feb. 15, 2019. (Keweenaw Now 2017 file photo)

LANSING -- The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), Oil, Gas, and Minerals Division (OGMD), announces a COMMENT DEADLINE EXTENSION to 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 15, 2019, for Back Forty Project, Mining Permit Amendment Request (MP 01 2016). The Back Forty Project is in Lake Township, Menominee County.

The extension is due to the holidays and computer operating system problems which caused difficulties in accessing the Back Forty Mining Permit Amendment Materials.

MDEQ will  accept written comments regarding the amendment application by mail or e-mail. Mail your comments to Back Forty Mining Permit Amendment, MDEQ-OGMD, 1504 West Washington Street, Marquette, MI 49855. E-mail your comments to the designated MDEQ mailbox at DEQ-Mining-Comments@michigan.gov -- including "Back Forty Mining Permit Amendment" as the subject. The MDEQ will only consider comments that pertain to the Mining Permit Amendment Application prior to making a final decision. For additional information, contact Melanie Humphrey, MDEQ, Oil, Gas, and Minerals Division, 906-250-7564, or e-mail humphreym@michigan.gov.

The Mining Permit Application Amendment documents may be accessed HERE. Once you are in the FTP site, select the "Mining" directory, then select the "Back Forty project." It is recommended that you use Internet Explorer as the web browser in order to properly access these files.

The amendment documents are:
R-MP Amendment Volume II EIA_Nov. 2018.pdf
R-MP Amendment Volume I_Nov. 2018.pdf
A paper and digital copy of the Permit Amendment Materials may be viewed at the Menominee County Public Library, S319 Railroad Street, Stephenson, MI 49887

Editor's Note: A formal public meeting with testimonies on the proposed mining permit amendment was held on Jan. 9, 2019, at Stephenson High School, Stephenson, Mich. Click here for our report on that meeting with videos and photos of testimonials from the public, many of whom requested an extension to the comment period in order to access and read the lengthy documents posted by MDEQ.