Rio Tinto/Kennecott haul road would impact bird species: Feb. 20 is deadline for public comments

By Skye Haas, vice-chairman, Laughing Whitefish Audubon Society

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment (MDNRE) comment period for the proposed Rio Tinto/Kennecott haul road to serve the Eagle Project sulfide mine near Marquette ends this Saturday, Feb. 20.

This proposed road will cut right through some of the last great roadless, wild areas of Michigan.

This proposed habitat degradation and fragmentation through the Michigamme Highlands caused by the creation of the proposed Woodland Road will have a negative impact on the breeding bird species that can be found in this area. I have found after five years of conducting Breeding Bird Atlas Surveys, that the northern Marquette County watersheds provide some of the greatest diversity, richness and abundance of bird species present in the Upper Peninsula.

American Bittern. (Photo © and courtesy Skye Haas, http://keweenawraptorsurvey.org/ )

Links to more information on this proposed road can be found here:
(The first link is a synthesis of the following links, though dive on in if you like!)

http://www.savethewildup.org/files/reasons_to_deny.pdf

http://www.savethewildup.org/files/part_632_overview.pdf

http://www.savethewildup.org/files/woodland_road_comments.pdf

http://www.savethewildup.org/files/woodland_road_analysis.pdf

Black-backed Woodpecker. (Photo © and courtesy Skye Haas)

Species that use this area for breeding that are listed by the MDNRE and MNFI (Michigan Natural Features Inventory) as State Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern include the following: Spruce Grouse, Common Loon, American Bittern, Northern Harrier, Northern Goshawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Merlin, and Black-backed Woodpecker. Also of interest are these IBA Audubon watch-list species that nest in this area: Olive-sided Flycatcher, Bay-breasted Warbler, and Canada Warbler.

Spruce Grouse. (Photo © and courtesy Skye Haas)

Finally, even though it is currently not on a watch-list, I have become increasingly concerned that Boreal Chickadees are experiencing a potential significant decline in the Upper Peninsula. The Michigamme Highlands are the epicenter for this species in the UP, and further fragmentation to their habitat would likely contribute to their decline.

Rather than further develop one of the more remote and near-roadless wild areas of Michigan, we should be strengthening our commitment and stewardship to protect such special areas. There are already existing roadways (the Triple AAA and Co Rd 550) that could service as transport routes for the Eagle Project.

Please note that the MDNRE is looking for technical comments as they apply to Part 303 Wetlands Protection.

Here are some ways to get your comments counted:

Email comments at the following link -- generates an automatic email from their website:
http://www.deq.state.mi.us/lwmpnh/commentform.asp?aid=09520086&at=ph

or send directly to:

Smolinski, Mike (DEQ) -- SMOLINSKIM@michigan.gov -- person in Gwinn, Mich., who will make the permit decision. Include:
RE: Woodland Road Application File: 09-52-0086-P

Hayes, Kate (DEQ) HAYESK@michigan.gov -- person in Lansing who is in charge of this permit relative to Consolidation.

Cary Gustafson gustafsonc1@michigan.gov -- Kate's boss in Lansing.

Snail mail might make the deadline if sent priority or express mail immediately as follows:

Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment
P.O. Box 30204
Lansing, MI 48909
RE: Woodland Road Application File: 09-52-0086-P

or

Mr. Mike Smolinski
Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment
420 5th St.
Qwinn, MI 49841

cc: Director Rebecca Humphries
MDNRE
Mason Building,
Sixth Floor,
P.O. Box 30028,
Lansing MI 48909

and, finally:
cc:
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm
P.O. Box 30013
Lansing, Michigan 48909
PHONE: (517) 373-3400
PHONE: (517) 335-7858 – Constituent Services
FAX:(517) 335-6863
EMAIL: http://www.michigan.gov/gov/0,1607,7-168-21995-65331–,00.html

The more comments we can get in the better. Your comments must be in their hands by close of day Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010.

Editor's Note: Guest author Skye Haas, vice-chairman, Laughing Whitefish Audubon Society, recently sent this letter to an email list of birders. Keweenaw Now requested and received permission from Skye Haas to publish it, with his photos, for our readers' information.