DNR to hold April 17 public meetings regarding Keweenaw Land Association direct metallic minerals lease applications

Map showing Baraga, Dickinson, Iron, Marquette and Menominee counties in the Upper Peninsula, where Keweenaw Land Association has requested direct metallic mineral leases from the State of Michigan covering Department of Natural Resources (DNR) metallic mineral rights. Click here for a larger map.

Approximately 10,631.43 acres of metallic minerals lease rights in Baraga, Dickinson, Iron, Marquette and Menominee counties have been requested by Keweenaw Land Association, Limited. Detailed parcel information including maps and classifications can be found at https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/minerals/metallic. If approved by DNR, a lease to Keweenaw Land Association, Limited, would grant the exclusive right to explore for the presence of metallic minerals in the described areas. A lease alone does not grant a lessee a right to mine.

Virtual Meeting and Registration Link

The DNR Minerals Management Section will hold duplicate virtual informational public meetings regarding the lease application on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, from 11 a.m. to Noon and from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., EDT. Interested parties may join either meeting by going to https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/75b549a3-2ae7-44c8-953a-39bcbd8b6864@d5fb7087-3777-42ad-966a-892ef47225d1. The meetings will be recorded, and the recordings will be made available at Michigan.gov/Minerals.

Registration is required to provide public comment during the meetings. Anyone wishing to participate in the public comment portion of the meetings will be allowed two minutes to speak.

Phone-in option

If you do not wish to register or do not have internet access, please use the phone option by dialing 1-248-509-0316 and using access code 209-806-381#.

Written questions

During the meetings a panel will respond to written questions from the public regarding the lease application.

Questions may be submitted to:

    DNR, Minerals Management Section
    P.O. Box 30452
    Lansing, MI 48909
    Or via email to DNR-LeaseManagement@michigan.gov. Subject line should read: Keweenaw Land Association, Limited.

Written questions received by April 5 will be addressed during the meetings; questions received after April 5 will be answered via email.

Visit the metallic lease webpage to learn more about State of Michigan minerals leasing. 

NOTE:

A DNR Mineral Lease Strategizing Session will be held via Zoom at 7:30 p.m. (EDT) on Monday, April 15, for those who wish to comment at the April 17th DNR meetings. Kathleen Heideman of UPEC's Mining Action Group and others will  be brainstorming the most impactful way to make voices heard at the meetings. Everyone is welcome, no need to be a Michigan resident! If interested, please register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0lcuiorjIrGtVcTK79ZwtLjKD4-tLm6xA4?fbclid=IwAR0epc0VMSA0VAb3Zf9d68sLB-AsA0lygkXlWKaG0tGdVvqs-IT6ZThTtCM_aem_ARs65fmy_XAYhAbMMX0pGgWAY3Z_1SLROQ9S5jnzOiZlvXDXQaxVzGAvfOovXIYwBtHZIOv1t82Ey3tKuLDYm83_#/registration