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

Keweenaw Land Association requests DNR metallic mineral releases; virtual public meeting is May 23

The black dots on this map indicate the Michigan state-owned metallic minerals the Keweenaw Land Association has requested to lease -- a total of 2,721.57 acres in Baraga, Dickinson, Iron and Marquette counties. CLICK HERE for a larger map.

LANSING -- Keweenaw Land Association has requested metallic minerals leases from the state of Michigan. The 2,721.57 acres, more or less, are located within L'Anse Township, Baraga County; Breen, Felch, Norway, Sagola, Waucedah and West Branch townships, Dickinson County; Bates and Crystal Falls townships, Iron County; Humboldt and Wells townships, Marquette County; further described as: Leasable Development with Restrictions. (See list below.)

If approved by the 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.

The DNR Minerals Management Section will hold a virtual informational public meeting regarding the lease application from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (EDT) on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. Interested parties may join the meeting by going to
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2737429241521824094.

Based upon the necessary technology to conduct a virtual meeting and offer two-way communication for public comment, registration is required for those who desire to provide public comment during the meeting. Should you not want to provide public comment and desire to only observe the meeting anonymously, or if you do not have internet access, please use the phone option by dialing 1-631-992-3221 and using access code 236-339-288. This meeting will be recorded, and the recording will be made available to the public on the DNR website.

A multi-agency panel will respond to written questions from the public regarding the lease application during this meeting. Questions may be submitted to DNR, Minerals Management Section, P.O. Box 30452, Lansing, MI 48909, or
DNR-LeaseManagement@michigan.gov. Subject line should read: Keweenaw Land Association, Limited. Written questions received by May 16, 2023, will be addressed during the meeting; questions received after May 16, 2023, will be answered via email.

The meeting will also include a public comment period. Anyone wishing to participate in the public comment portion of the meeting will be allowed two minutes to speak.

Leasable Development with Restrictions:

T49N, R32W, Section 01, SW1/4 of NW1/4; Section 02, NE1/4 of SE1/4, SE1/4 of NE1/4; Section 19, S1/2 of SW1/4; Section 30, NE1/4 of NW1/4, NW1/4 of NE1/4, SE1/4 of NE1/4, S1/2 of SE1/4; Section 32, N1/2 of NW1/4, N1/2 of NE1/4, SE1/4 of
NE1/4. (590.48 acres m/l)

T41N, R27W, Section 05, NW1/4 of NE1/4. (40 acres m/l)

T44N, R28W, Section 32, S1/2 of SE1/4, SE1/4 of SW1/4; Section 33, SW1/4 of SW1/4. (160 acres m/l)

T40N, R29W, Section 23, SW1/4; Section 24, NE1/4 of SW1/4, S1/2 of SW1/4; Section 26, NE1/4, NW1/4. (600 acres m/l)

T44N, R29W, Section 01, S1/2 of NW1/4, NW1/4 of SW1/4; Section 02, E1/2 of NE1/4; Section 34, NW1/4 of NW1/4. (242.5 acres m/l)

T39N, R28W, Section 09, S1/2 of NE1/4, SE1/4 of NW1/4; Section 10, NW1/4 of NW1/4. (160 acres m/l)

T43N, R27W, Section 04, NW1/4 of SW1/4, SW1/4 of NW1/4; Section 05, N1/2 of SE1/4, SE1/4 of NE1/4. (200 acres m/l)

T43N, R34W, Section 01, E1/2 of SE1/4. (80 acres m/l)

T43N, R32W, Section 17, NW1/4 of SE1/4. (40 acres m/l)

T43N, R33W, Section 07, N1/2 of NW1/4; Section 11, S1/2 of SE1/4; Section 14, NW1/4 of NE1/4. (200.05 acres m/l)

T45N, R29W, Section 34, W1/2 of SE1/4. (80 acres m/l)

T43N, R26W, Section 06, N1/2 of SW1/4, NW1/4 of SE1/4, SW1/4 of SW1/4. (158.96 acres m/l)

T44N, R29W, Section 01, N1/2 of NW1/4; Section 02, NW1/4 of NW1/4; Section 03, NE1/4 of NE1/4. (169.58 acres m/l)

Editor's Note: For more information on minerals visit https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/minerals. See also the DNR Mineral Management interactive map.