Gromit the Trail Mutt posts photos of her bike trail adventures

HANCOCK -- Gromit the Trail Mutt has posted photos of her latest adventures on the bike trails. Here are a few samples ...

On Saturday, Apr. 28, Gromit writes, "Today we headed to Churning Rapids for a great little run... but the rest of the pack rode their bike. Why don't they run??" (Photos © 2012 and courtesy Arlyn and Sandy Aronson)

"A water dog can appreciate a cool stop in Swedetown creek!" Gromit says. "We saw a friendly fisherman here."

Last week (Apr. 21) Gromit had a great run on Swedetown Trails in Calumet. Here she takes a break next to Sandy and Arlyn's tandem bike.

On Apr. 20 Gromit and her pack took a trip to Hungarian Falls. "I lean close for security," Gromit notes. "You can't see this but these are over 100 ft tall."

Gromit and Sandy at the Michigan Tech Trails. "We didn't do the Dork screw," Gromit says. "Personally I don't care for the decking with the big spacing; it's not good for all-paw drive."

See more photos of Gromit's adventures on her blog, The Trail Mutt Reports.

Finlandia Art and Design Diploma Works Exhibit to open Apr. 28

 Amanda Mears, Finlandia University International School of Art and Design student in ceramic design, displays her work, "It's a Mad, Mad World," for the 2012 Diploma Works Exhibition opening Apr. 28 in the Finlandia University Gallery of the Finnish American Heritage Center. (Photos courtesy Finlandia University)

HANCOCK -- The Finlandia University International School of Art and Design (ISAD) 2012 Diploma Works Exhibition is featured from April 28 to May 26, 2012, at the Finlandia University Gallery, which is in the Finnish American Heritage Center, Hancock.

Mallory Torrala, "From Here to Eternity," mixed media.

A reception for the artists will take place from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.at the gallery Saturday, April 28. The artists will be introduced at 7:15 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

 Rebecca Langlais, "A Route's Ending," digital illustrations.

The artworks featured in the annual Diploma Works Exhibit represent the final body of student work for each graduating bachelor of fine arts (B.F.A.) student. The works include intensive research projects, series of individual artworks, and design prototypes. A variety of media is represented, including painting, illustration, sculpture, fiber design, graphic design, integrated design, and ceramics.

 Kari Heikkinen, "#182," paste resist on cotton.

The 2012 ISAD graduating seniors are Illustration majors Brooke Cummings (Bergland) and Mallory Torola (Calumet); Fiber and Fashion Design majors Kari Heikkinen (Mohawk) and Eileen Sundquist (Hancock and Jamestown, NY); Graphic Design major Ashley Hoeper (Houghton); Digital Art major Rebecca Langlais (Norway, MI), Ceramic Design major Amanda Mears (Houghton); and Integrated Design major Christine Westrich (Ewen).

For more information please call 906-487-7500.

MSU Extension to offer fruit tree pruning workshop Apr. 28 in Central

HANCOCK -- A fruit tree pruning workshop will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Apr. 28, at Central Location (four miles north of Phoenix on the west side of Highway 41) in Keweenaw County.

The presenter is Mike Schira, Extension Educator in the Houghton-Keweenaw County Michigan State University Extension Office. The public is invited to bring pruning implements if they have them, although these are not required. It will be both a demonstration and a hands-on workshop. The cost is $10 per person.

Pre-registration is necessary. Please call the MSU Extension Office at 482-5830 or email:
msue31@msu.edu.

Portage Library invites kids to National Parks Storytime Apr. 28

HOUGHTON -- The Portage Lake District Library invites all children to a special Storytime about our nation’s national parks in celebration of Junior Ranger Day.

Join Isle Royale National Park Ranger Valerie Martin at 10:15 a.m. on Saturday, April 28, for stories and songs about your national parks. Kids will learn about these special places and earn their own Junior Ranger badge.

Library programs are free and open to all. For more information, please call the library at 482-4570 or visit www.pldl.org.

Electric vehicle charging station unveiled in Houghton

By Michele Bourdieu

Michigan Tech students who worked on the project were present for the unveiling of the new public electric vehicle charging station on the Houghton parking deck behind the Fifth and Elm Coffee House on Wednesday, Apr. 25. Michigan Tech faculty members who worked with the students are George Dewey (left of sign), civil and environmental engineering; Roger Woods (far right), business; and John Ludowski (fourth from right), electrical engineering. (Photos by Allan Baker for Keweenaw Now)

HOUGHTON -- On Wednesday, Apr. 25, the City of Houghton parking deck behind the Fifth and Elm Coffee House was the scene of a "first" for Michigan Tech University students and the City of Houghton -- the unveiling of the first public charging station for electric vehicles in this area of the Upper Peninsula (possibly the first active one in the whole UP).

Two Chevy Volt electric cars were on site for the event -- and one was being charged at the station, which is connected to the Fifth and Elm, whose owner, Frank Fiala, is presently providing the electricity for the 240-volt charging unit (visible on the wall in the photo above).

"This is a student project," said George Dewey, Michigan Tech professor of civil and environmental engineering and faculty advisor for Michigan Tech's Transportation Enterprise program. "It's driven by students. A lot of the decisions are made by the students, and they certainly deserve -- I would say -- most of the credit beyond the sponsors. General Motors is the key sponsor here in the start of this project and continues to support a whole variety of student projects at Michigan Tech."

Dewey added this is only one of several projects at Michigan Tech involving electric and hybrid vehicles. He mentioned another is Michigan Tech's hybrid electric vehicles mobile lab -- on display in Washington, DC, this week.*

George Dewey, Michigan Tech professor of civil and environmental engineering, speaks about the interdisciplinary and community approach to this electric vehicle charging project -- involving students in civil engineering, electrical engineering, and business. Also speaking about the challenges of the project are John Ludowski, Michigan Tech professor of electrical engineering, and Roger Woods, faculty member in Michigan Tech's School of Business and Economics. Dewey also acknowledges the support of Houghton City Manager Scott Mac Innes (in photo below); Dan Crane, Upper Peninsula Power Company regional account executive; and Frank Fiala, owner of the Fifth and Elm Coffee House, where the public charging facility is located. Fiala is presently donating the electricity for the charging unit. (Videos by Allan Baker for Keweenaw Now)

The Michigan Tech student teams studied many of the technical and business issues of public charging -- including predicting how many charging stations will be needed, the best locations for charging stations, and a viable business model to pay for the charging infrastructure as well as the electricity used.

Pictured here with the new sign for the charging station are, from left, Frank Fiala, owner of the Fifth and Elm Coffee House; Michigan Tech professors John Ludowski, George Dewey and Roger Woods; Dan Crane of the Upper Peninsula Power Company; and Scott Mac Innes, Houghton city manager.

Frank Fiala said the Fifth and Elm Coffee House is presently donating the electricity for the charging station, which is connected to his electrical system, as a start-up service for the project.

"If the demand increases so that it becomes more and more expensive to offer the service, we can put in some sort of payment system," Fiala said.

He considers the donation an advertising expense for now, since the signage for the charging station includes the Fifth and Elm.

Michigan Tech Professor George Dewey and students display the Electric Vehicle Charging Station sign, which lists sponsors and partners in the project. 

"It will create awareness of who we are," Fiala added.

He also believes the charging station will help attract people to downtown Houghton.

To a question on where the next charging station might be located, Ludowski said Eaton, the company that donated the charging unit, donated a second one, which he and Dewey are working to locate on the Michigan Tech campus.

George Dewey mentions other renewable energy projects involving Michigan Tech students. He also shows an example of a 110-volt charger, the type used to charge an
electric car at home. John Ludowski explains the safety feature that prevents driving the Chevy Volt with the charging cord plugged in.

The Chevy Volt vehicles on display at the charging station require two and a half hours (at 240 volts) to charge an empty battery. The time to charge it at home on 110 volts is considerably longer. However, Dewey pointed out most electric vehicle owners would use a public charging station when the battery is not empty, possibly just to "top off" or to charge the car while doing something else downtown.

Chevrolet claims their "Volt is unique among electric vehicles because you have two sources of energy. You have an electric source -- a battery -- that allows you to drive gas-free for an EPA-estimated 35 miles. And there's also an onboard gas generator that produces electricity so you can go up to a total of 375 miles on a full tank of gas."**

Editor's Notes:
* Click here to read about the mobile lab on the Michigan Tech News.

** Click here for info on the Chevy Volt.

Orpheum Theater to host three music events

HANCOCK -- Tonight (Thursday) at 7 p.m. the Orpheum Theater will host a benefit show for Greg Wright, one of the Keweenaw's greatest musicians and a great guy! The Backroom Boys with beautiful Jazz, Raven Congress with superb Rock and Blues, Bob Hiltunen and Steve Jones with Blues, and Electric Park with Modern Rock will entertain. Suggested Donation is $10 at the door. Click here for Facebook info.

Saturday Night, Apr. 28, the Orpheum will offer great modern Alternative Rock from the Belle Weather (from Green Bay) along with Houghton's own March of the Snails. The Belle Weather's melodic original tunes are amazing, and March of the Snails will be heading off to college soon, so catch them while you can! Music starts at 8 p.m., and this great show is only $5 at the door! Click here to check out Belle Weather's music.

And at 8 p.m. next Wednesday, May 2, Good Grief, Dan Daniels and the Southern Gents, and Esto will perform! Only $5! Great rock and folk music!

Click here for Good Grief.

Check out Dan Daniels and the Southern Gents music.

Click here for Esto.

Portage Library to host "Dr. Seuss Extravaganza" Apr. 26

HOUGHTON -- The Portage Lake District Library invites children of all ages to a "Dr. Seuss Extravaganza" at 6:30 p.m. TONIGHT, Thursday, April 26. This annual event will celebrate the anniversary of Dr. Seuss’ birthday and the whimsical magic of his stories.

This event is sponsored by members of Michigan Tech’s Circle K Service Organization and the Houghton High School Key Club. Circle K and Key Club students will read classic Dr. Seuss stories and lead the kids in decorating Cat in the Hat cookies with a Dr. Seuss-ish flourish. Gluten-free cookies will also be available for those who want them.

Circle K International Service Organization and Key Club look for opportunities for service, leadership, and friendship. Their wide range of projects includes activities such as picking up trash on highways, playing board games with the elderly, and doing storytimes.

Library programs are free and open to all. For more information, please call the library at 482-4570 or visit www.pldl.org.

Back to the Future: Mining Engineering returns to Michigan Tech

HOUGHTON -- Beginning in fall 2012, Michigan Technological University will offer a Bachelor of Science in Engineering, with a technical emphasis in mining engineering, and it is the first step in moving toward a Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering.

"It’s not your grandfather’s mining anymore," says Wayne Pennington, chair of geological and mining engineering and sciences (GMES). "Mining today is so different, and this new program will be tailored to that."

It will be interdisciplinary, too, he said, with faculty coming from across campus and new courses being added to many existing ones.

"It will be accredited," Pennington says, "since it is part of the BSE program. And, of course, it’s a great use of the science and engineering available at Tech."

The program will be administered through GMES, and an advisory board will be formed, made up of industry, academic, and government expertise, to help direct the program, Pennington adds.

"It’s part of our heritage, and it’s part of the future, too," added Leonard Bohmann, associate dean of engineering. "There’s a definite need for mining engineers, now and into the future. We are positioned where we can help fill that need."

That need extends far beyond renewed local mining concerns, Bohmann said.

"There’s a global need for mining engineers," Bohmann said. "And getting this degree up and running will help us put together a mining program. This is a quick way of getting started."

Although it’s tough to gauge future enrollments, Pennington thought thirty to fifty students were not out of the question. Additional faculty members could be needed some day, too, Bohmann added.

GMES Professor Emeritus Allan Johnson was pleased about the new degree.

"It’s just great," he said. "The people who get mining degrees get good-paying jobs."

Johnson cited another reason for the renewed interest in mining.

"In the last half-dozen years, the price of all the mineral products and metals are high," he said. "Wealth is generated from natural resources."

"The world needs people to run mining operations that control costs, are safe, and don’t damage the environment," Johnson added. "That takes intelligence, excellent training and experience."

Pennington is announcing the new degree program at the Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration conference in Marquette, today, Wednesday, April 25.

Houghton first in UP to offer public electric vehicle charging

HOUGHTON -- Electric Vehicle (EV) owners can now charge their cars at a public charging station in downtown Houghton on the parking deck behind the 5th and Elm Coffee House. Students from Michigan Tech, with support from General Motors, Upper Peninsula Power Company, and the City of Houghton have partnered together to install the first public EV charging station in the Upper Peninsula. The new charging station will be unveiled for public use at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Apr. 25, at the 5th and Elm Coffee House, 326 Shelden Ave in Houghton.

General Motors has a long history of working with Michigan Tech on student projects related to emerging industry and society issues. This year, GM sponsored several groups of Michigan Tech students to look at some of the charging infrastructure challenges associated with the ongoing emergence of electrified transportation. One of those current challenges is the availability of public EV charging. While most EV owners are likely to charge their vehicles at home, the limited battery capacity, and therefore range, of most current EVs makes public charging an essential element needed for widespread EV adoption. It is a classic chicken or egg dilemma. Without large numbers of EVs in service, public charging will not be extensively used. But the lack of a visible network of public charging is perceived as a possible limiting factor in consumers considering an EV purchase.

Student teams in the Automotive Computing Enterprise, Transportation Enterprise, Civil Engineering Senior Design, and the School of Business looked at the many issues associated with public EV charging. One outcome of their efforts is the new charging station in downtown Houghton. Students grappled with many of the technical and business issues of public charging including predicting how many charging stations will be needed, the best locations for charging stations, and a viable business model to pay for the charging infrastructure as well as the electricity used.

Initially, the new charging station in Houghton will offer free charging courtesy of 5th and Elm Coffee House. Frank Fiala, the owner of 5th and Elm, is excited to part of the first Houghton charging station because he believes it will help attract people to downtown Houghton. The City of Houghton sees the new EV charger as part of their continuing efforts to encourage the growth and development of downtown.

Electric utilities will be central players in the shift to electric transportation and the Upper Peninsula Power Company strives to be in a leadership role by supporting, encouraging, and enabling this new technology. By partnering with Michigan Tech and the City of Houghton on the first publicly available EV charger in the UP, UPPCO demonstrates their dedication to having an active role in shaping the future of this market. UPPCO envisions the future network of home, workplace, and public charging infrastructure as key opportunities to serve their customer base and provide the transportation fuel of the future.

Portage Library to host "Life in East Germany and the Fall of the Berlin Wall" Apr. 24

HOUGHTON -- The Portage Lake District Library will host Michigan Tech Assistant Professor Thomas Werner (Biological Sciences) at 6:30 p.m. TONIGHT, Tuesday, April 24, for a slide show and presentation on "Life in East Germany and the Fall of the Berlin Wall."

Werner grew up in East Germany and will share his story about living there and his trip to West Berlin the day after the wall was torn down.

Werner studied biology in Jena, Germany; got his PhD in cell and molecular biology in Umea, Sweden; was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; and is now in the Department of Biological Sciences at Michigan Tech.

Library programs are free, and everyone is welcome. For more information please call the library at 482-4570 or visit www.pldl.org.

Letter to EPA: Comments on CR 595 road proposal

Editor's Note: The following letter, dated Apr. 6, 2012, was sent to the Watersheds and Wetlands Branch of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5, Chicago, Ill., during the public comment period on the Marquette County Road Commission's permit application for the proposed CR 595, a haul road for the Rio Tinto-Kennecott Eagle Mine.

These observations do not deal with the details of road planning and construction and the environment -- but with the underlying fundamentals, essentially that the applicant, Kennecott Eagle Mining Corporation, is not and never has been negotiating in good faith.

We, a small group which evaluated the application for mining permits, initially for the National Wildlife Foundation but without sponsorship when NWF funds ran out in 2008, have found and reported that the application document was, and still is, unacceptably ill-conceived, erroneous, deceitful and fraudulent.

It is strange, but true, that we have presented the evidence to the regulating agency (MDEQ), to the courts and to all legal authorities up to the State Attorney General, then the U.S. Attorney General, then the FBI, and all simply said, "No thank you. End of conversation," and all refused to even investigate the charges. We have the proof.

Since the operations went underground in September 2011 MSHA entered the picture, being held specifically responsible for Mine Safety and Health Administration. We handed them proof of two specific allegations: That the mine design was based upon incorrect and falsified design data and that the mine design, if followed, would be unstable and might well collapse without warning (as did the Athens iron mine near Negaunee, MI, despite the 1800 ft. thick crown pillar) and as did the Ropes gold mine near Ishpeming.

NB: Sainsbury, the technical expert hired by MDEQ to evaluate the mining aspects of the application, testified that he was told by MDEQ to delete those "case histories" from his report. That surely should have raised a red flag over the permitting proceedings. But it did not.

At this time MSHA tells us that in Metallic Mining law their mandate is to deal with unsafe operations as they show up, but not preemptively. In Coal Mining law they do have power to evaluate and allow or reject planned activities. Judging from the Athens mine collapse events we will have to wait for the Eagle to collapse then send in an investigative team or two, much as we did at the two recent major coal mine disasters in Utah and W. Va.

This attitude fits the generally recognized pattern within the industry -- which is to "Do anything and to say anything to get the permits -- then make changes as necessary." Law 632 requires supported amendments for each of these changes, unless the DEQ deems them to be "insignificant" -- which is what the DEQ usually does -- without the required public hearings and input. To me, a plain old engineer, that looks like collusion.

The Federal agencies have some degree of independence and in the earlier evaluation of a haul road displayed it by declaring that the name "Woodland Road," or "Wetland Road," was deceptive in that a simple truck count or tonnage count would show that haulage of ore from mine to mill was/is the primary purpose for building it, and if there were no mine then no new road would be built.

The deception continues. Behind the scenes Kennecott deals with local authorities and induces them to get state funds to help with the haulage roads, and still they have no permitted route. Incidentally 632 requires that ALL mining-related permits be in hand before other mining-related activities begin. That ruling has been ignored, or defied, since Day One, by extension of power lines, for example.

As evidence of gross deception Kennecott continues to soothe local objections by sticking to their original story that the mine will produce an average of 1500 tons/day, i.e thirty 50-ton truckloads per day. The locals appear to have accepted that proposition. But the Humboldt Mill is being constructed to handle not 1500 but 10,000 tons/day. Obviously they intend to mine more, not thirty but two hundred round trips per day. That, of course, would make a lot of difference -- first to their claim to be open and transparent in their dealings with the public -- thence to the degree of opposition aroused. Revelation of the truth could sink the project.

That intentional opacity is again demonstrated in their refusal to answer all questions about the most basic questions concerning the design of a new road -- How much traffic per day? How heavy the loads? What speed limits, gradients, vertical and horizontal curves? Trucks do not have to go 55 mph! Think about noise, dust and accidents.

For what length of time will the haul road be needed? 

More specifically -- how many years would KEMC mine at the Eagle prospect? If, as planned, they take only the high-grade ore ($1,000/ton) they could do it in five or six years; but if they mined more responsibly they could recover an additional billion dollars worth of $150 ore and extend the life of the mine another 15 years. That would be much more desirable from our point of view.

The numbers are in the application.

They do not disclose their intentions directly but the corporate (Rio Tinto) business plan is to seek out and operate only projects which will be profitable through times both thick and thin -- which implies that they will take only high-grade -- as they did at the Flambeau mine in Wisconsin. Is it to be a 5-year life? Or 20 years?

Another question which they avoid -- although you asked it for "Woodland Road" -- is this: "How many other destinations will the haul road serve?" How much additional environment will be disturbed? I am reasonably sure that they have strong, if not conclusive, indications from their airborne and other exploration efforts. But that, of course, is called proprietary information. Behold the cloak.

Conclusion: I believe that all road-planning to date has been based on intentional deception, and should therefore be thrown out, and that KEMC should be required to start again, specifically without deception, thus displaying their vaunted openness and transparency. If the facts are not forthcoming there should be no new road. (Say anything to get the permits!)

I would not be surprised if the original transportation plan would have been the best -- if they were mining only high-grade ore -- to truck it to a railhead close to Marquette and ship trainloads direct to refinery. No Humboldt mill was needed. There is still doubt concerning that 10,000 tpd operation -- and tailings disposal. (Some day somebody will discover that a large tailings pond would have to be built in the wetlands there. Another surprise!) Try this one: "Why was the multi-million dollar monumental Bridge to Nowhere built on CR510 in 2006 forward. The motive? Ask for a photograph of the finished product.

Respectfully submitted,

Jack Parker, Mining Engineer
Baltic MI 49963

Updated: Derek Bailey to run for Michigan House District 101

Derek Bailey, chairman of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, has decided not to run for U.S. Congress. Instead he plans to run for the Michigan House of Representatives. (Photo courtesy Derek Bailey)

TRAVERSE CITY -- Derek Bailey, chairman of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, has decided to run for the 101st District seat in the Michigan House of Representatives instead of running for the U.S. House of Representatives in the Democratic Primary against Gary McDowell for Michigan's 1st Congressional District.

Click here to read the article "Bailey Ends Bid For Congress, Looks Toward Lansing" on Interlochen Public Radio.

UPDATE:
LANSING -- Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer issued the following statement on Tribal Chairman for the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians Derek Bailey’s decision to end his campaign in Michigan’s 1st Congressional District:

"Chairman Bailey ran a Congressional campaign that all Democrats can be proud of. We value his leadership in the Michigan Democratic Party and believe he has a bright future ahead of him. We thank him for his campaign and for bringing important Democratic issues to the voters of the 1st Congressional District.

"Chairman Bailey now plans to run for the State House of Representatives in the 101st District. The Michigan Democratic Party has a long-standing policy of neutrality in Democratic primaries. We wish all of the candidates well and leave the choice of the Democratic candidate to the Democratic voters in the 101st. We look forward to winning the 101st in the general election as we work to take back the House in November."

Slide show: Kids learn about dairy goats at Portage Library

By Michele Bourdieu

Children and parents gather in the Community Room of the Portage Lake District Library during the April 21 "Dairy Goat Storytime," featuring goat owners Brian Rajdl (center) a science teacher at Hancock High School, and his wife, Katie Searl (holding baby goat), and their dairy goats. Click on photos for larger versions. (Photos by Keweenaw Now)

HOUGHTON -- Keweenaw Now has posted a new slide show -- the "Dairy Goat Storytime" held last Saturday, Apr. 21, at the Portage Lake District Library.

Dairy goat owners Brian Rajdl, a science teacher at Hancock High School, and his wife, Katie Searl, brought Nutmeg, a Mama Goat, and her two three-week-old kids, Moscow and Angelina, to the library -- offering a unique learning experience for the children. The goats are originally a Swiss combined breed of Alpine and Toggenburg dairy goats.

Goat co-owner Katie Searl holds Moscow so children and Portage Library Community Programs Coordinator Chris Alquist, a former goat owner herself, can pet it.

The event, organized by Portage Library Community Programs Coordinator Chris Alquist, included goat stories, tasting pasteurized goat's milk products purchased by the library from the Keweenaw Co-op, and an art project. 

Click here or go to the top right corner of Keweenaw Now to view the slide show. Click on any photo. Above the large photo click on the title of the slide show; then, at the top left, click slide show.

Archivist Erik Nordberg to present "Houghton County Potato Farming" at Calumet Library Apr. 25

CALUMET -- Friends of the Calumet Public Library will host Michigan Tech Archivist Erik Nordberg, who will make a presentation on "Houghton County Potato Farming" from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 25, at the Calumet Public Library.

Betty and Marie Onkalo assist each other in bagging their potatoes just picked on the Sohlden farms near Klingville. (Photo courtesy Michigan Tech Archives. Reprinted with permission.)

The Great Depression caused widespread distress in the mining and timber communities of the Upper Peninsula. Unemployment skyrocketed, and the short growing seasons and cold winters squeezed the people’s ability to survive. The circumstances transformed Houghton County into one of the nation's most productive potato-producing regions in the 1930s and 1940s.

The enterprise, which Nordberg illustrates with dozens of historical photographs, featured a community of growers, numerous potato warehouses and a niche market for high-quality, table-stock potatoes in Midwestern cities.

Nordberg’s presentation, which is open to the public, is sponsored by the Friends of the Calumet Public Library. Refreshments will be served.

From Tech Today: Donate electronics to help projects in Ghana, India

HOUGHTON -- Students from the Michigan Tech University Pavlis Institute are collecting electronics in good, working condition to donate to community centers and schools in Ghana and India. The Institute sends students abroad every year to complete service projects as a part of their curriculum for the Certificate in Global Technological Leadership. Students return to the same sites every year to maintain good relations with communities abroad.

Items Needed: computer mice, keyboards, speakers, headphones, USB drives, educational computer games, Webcams, digital cameras, disk drives, hard drives, Netbooks, monitors, desktop computers, laptops.

Drop off equipment at M and M 722 on campus during normal business hours. This can be done until mid-June.

For more information, contact Mollie Ruth at mmruth@mtu.edu.

Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club seeks tool donations

HANCOCK -- Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club (KNSC) is planning on fully stocking its maintenance shop. Before purchasing the tools they are asking for donations of tools that people may have and are willing to donate to them.

Tools are as follows: 1- loppers;  2- 12" combination level/square;  3- Punches and cold chisels;  4- 18v drill/driver;  5- twist drill set;  6- bench vice;  7- allen wrench set;  8-workbench;  9- 25' tape measure;  10- hacksaw;  11- 12" channellock pliers;  12- 10" pipe wrench;  13- 6" pliers - slip joint, long nose, and diagonal;  14- metal files;  15- free-standing shelving; 16- socket set; 17- light duty floor jack; and 18- jack stands.

To make a donation or ask a question contact Jay Green, KNSC president, at jbgreen45@charter.net or call 906-487-5411. Donations can be picked up. Donations are tax deductible. KNSC is a 501 (c) 3 and will supply a receipt.

Pilgrim River Watershed Advisory Council to hold meeting Apr. 23

HOUGHTON -- The Pilgrim River Watershed Advisory Council (PRWAC) will hold its Fourth Meeting at 5 p.m. Monday, April 23, at the Michigan Tech Lakeshore Center Community Room, 600 East Lakeshore Dr., Houghton (former UPPCO building). The public is invited to attend.

The Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District (HKCD) received a Michigan Coastal Zone Management/DEQ/NOAA grant to prepare a Pilgrim River Watershed Management Plan.  A Watershed Management Plan includes a fact-based assessment of water quality, the fishery, habitats, land uses, road and stream crossings, any impairments and other factors impacting water quality of the river and surrounding land. This factual information along with community input will be used to develop a plan with voluntary recommendations to help the community understand and manage a healthy watershed. PRWAC Meetings provide a public forum for constituents of the Pilgrim River Watershed to provide input. Michigan Tech S-STEM students and Keweenaw Land Trust will help facilitate this session. 

Thimbleberry Band to play old-time dance music at Finnish American Heritage Center Apr. 21

HANCOCK -- The Finnish American Heritage Center will host an Earth Day dance by the Thimbleberry Band from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, April 21. Honoring outgoing band members Coleman and Matt, this event will feature old-time Copper Country dance music -- polkas, waltzes, schottisches, tangos, fiddle tunes and more from the band’s Finnish, French-Canadian, Slovenian, Croatian, and Irish roots. Admission is $5 with proceeds to benefit FinnFest USA 2013. All ages are welcome. Children free. For more information, please call 487-7505.

Photos: Big Bay residents attend Rio Tinto AGM in London

By Michele Bourdieu, with information from GreenwashGold.org
Photos by Sallie Dean Shatz

Carla Champagne, right, of Concerned Citizens of Big Bay, Mich., and Cynthia Pryor, second from right, of the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve join demonstrators outside Rio Tinto's Annual General Meeting on Apr. 19, 2012, in London, England. Click on photos for larger versions. (Photo © 2012 by Sallie Dean Shatz of www.shatziephotos.com. Reprinted with permission.)

LONDON, UK -- Cynthia Pryor of the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve and Carla Champagne of Concerned Citizens of Big Bay, Mich., attended Rio Tinto's Annual General Meeting (AGM) in London, England, on Thursday, April 19, 2012, to present their concerns about Rio Tinto/Kennecott's air quality application for their Eagle Mine near Big Bay.

Cynthia Pryor, right, displays her protest sign during a demonstration outside Rio Tinto's Annual General Meeting on Apr. 19, 2012, in London, England. (Photo © 2012 by Sallie Dean Shatz of www.shatziephotos.com. Reprinted with permission.)

Pryor and Champagne attended the AGM to ask the Rio Tinto Board of Directors and their shareholders for a comprehensive air quality program to be installed in the region that will be regulated by the DEQ (Michigan Department of Environmental Quality), monitored by DEQ-approved third party scientists and all costs paid for by Kennecott. At present there are no air monitors either at the Eagle Mine or anywhere near Big Bay. Rio Tinto / Kennecott’s new Air Quality application asks to remove the air filter controls from the Main Vent Air Raise, which will be used as the only exhaust for all the underground mine workings.

Rio Tinto filed their new Air Quality permit March 20, 2012 and the DEQ Air Quality Division is currently evaluating it. Public hearings for this application have been requested for Big Bay and Lansing.*

Demonstrators display a banner saying, "Rio Tinto Poison Profits Poison PR." See www.greenwashgold.org to read about three women -- an activist from Mongolia, a mother from Utah and an ex-member of the US Olympic bobsled team -- who attended the Rio Tinto AGM to highlight the devastating impact that Rio Tinto-operated mines, which are providing the medals for the 2012 games, are having on their respective countries. (Photo © 2012 by Sallie Dean Shatz of www.shatziephotos.com. Reprinted with permission.)

Zanaa Jurmed, the Director of the Center for Citizens’ Alliance in Mongolia; Cherise Udell, the founder of Utah Moms for Clean Air; and Alexandra Allred, who trained for and made the U.S. women's bobsled team in 1994, attended the Rio Tinto AGM to protest environmental damage and cover-ups by Rio Tinto, which is supplying the gold for Olympic medals. Jurmed and Udell also participated in the launch of the Greenwash Gold 2012 campaign targeting Rio Tinto as well as BP and the Dow Chemical Company for greenwashing to hide environmental damage. The campaign invites the public to vote for the company covering up the most environmental destruction and devastating the most communities while pretending to be a good corporate citizen by sponsoring the Olympic games.**

The Greenwash Gold group is followed by Utah Moms for Clean Air, who also attended the Rio Tinto AGM to protest impacts of air pollution from the Bingham Canyon Mine near Salt Lake City. (Photo © 2012 by Sallie Dean Shatz of www.shatziephotos.com. Reprinted with permission.)

In Salt Lake City, Utah, Rio Tinto plc operates the world’s largest open pit copper, molybdenum and gold mine. It will provide 99 per cent of the metals for the Olympics. The remaining 1 per cent will come from Rio Tinto’s mine in development in the south Gobi desert in Mongolia. In Utah, Rio Tinto’s Bingham Canyon mine has been linked to large numbers of premature deaths as a result of the air pollution it has been linked to, while in Mongolia the mine is linked to controversial water depletion in a desert area.

A protestor against Rio Tinto's uranium mining joins the demonstration outside the company's AGM in London. (Photo © 2012 by Sallie Dean Shatz of www.shatziephotos.com. Reprinted with permission.)

Rio Tinto's Ranger Uranium Mine in Australia is routinely spilling radioactive water into the surrounding area and is opposed by Aboriginal communities.

The Dow Chemical Company has a long, sordid, history of environmental crimes spanning many decades. It produced Agent Orange to be sprayed upon innocent Vietnamese people; it developed napalm into a lethal weapon of mass destruction; it has bribed officials in order to register banned, dangerous pesticides; and it has regularly poisoned the rivers and the air around its factories.

Dow is also connected to the 1984 Bhopal Gas disaster and the ongoing medical catastrophe -- and the separate issue of toxic pollution that sees, to this day, thousands of people drinking water heavily contaminated with highly dangerous chemicals.***

BP, aside from the Deep Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, is one of the most unsustainable companies on the planet; yet its brand is all over the Olympics. Incredibly, it has landed the prestigious title of "Sustainability Partner" while it is bankrolling educational and cultural initiatives, providing fuel for the Games, and sponsoring many athletes.

BP is entirely focused on extracting every last fossil fuel it can get its hands on, including tar sands, the most destructive industrial project on the planet. Extracting oil from tar sands, besides contributing a huge amount of carbon emissions to climate change, also destroys swathes of boreal forest, uses huge amounts of fresh water, and causes soaring rates of illness in local communities.****

This video from greenwashgold.org asks for your vote against Rio Tinto. (Posted here under Creative Commons permission.)

* See "Two Big Bay residents to address air quality concerns at Rio Tinto London meeting Apr. 19."
Click here to read the Kennecott application on the DEQ website. Also click here to read more about Rio Tinto from Greenwash Gold.

** Click here to read and see videos about the Greenwash Gold campaign and vote for the company covering up the most environmental destruction and devastating the most communities while pretending to be a good corporate citizen by sponsoring the Olympic games.

*** Read more about Dow Chemical Company.

**** Read more about BP.

Khana Khazana to serve cuisine from four countries Apr. 20

The Apr. 20 Khana Khazana menu will feature cuisine from four countries. Click on image for larger version. (Image courtesy Khana Khazana)

HOUGHTON --The final Khana Khazana (food treasure) of the semester will feature dishes from four countries today, Friday, April 20, at Michigan Tech's Memorial Union Food Court.

Here is the fare: Chinese fried noodles; South Korean ggoji jun-ham -- green onion, imitation crab stick, potato, sweet potato and egg, fried and on a skewer; Japanese handmade sushi roll with vegetables, shrimp and salmon; and a Finnish dessert of berry ice cream with crunchy oatmeal cookies.

The weekly lunch is cooked and served by international students.

A full meal costs $6 and includes a free beverage. Individual entrees are available for $2 each. Lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Khana Khazana is a collaborative effort of international students and Michigan Tech Dining Services.

Main Street Calumet Apr. 21 Market cancelled

CALUMET -- The Main Street Calumet Market has been cancelled for this Saturday, April 21, 2012, and will resume its regular schedule next Saturday, April 28, 2012.

The market is normally held every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the first Friday of each month from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Portage Library to host 3 events for young and old Apr. 20, 21

HOUGHTON -- The Portage Lake District Library will host a Community Poetry Reading on Friday, Apr. 20, and two events on Saturday, Apr. 21: Dairy Goat Storytime and Stamp Collecting.

The Portage Lake District Library invites everyone to gather around the library’s fireplace for a Community Poetry Reading from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Apr. 20. Lovers of poetry can read their own poems or poems written by others, or simply enjoy listening to others read.

The Portage Lake District Library will have a real Toggenburg Alpine mix mother goat and her three-week-old baby kids at Storytime at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Apr. 21.

Katie Searl and her children -- Anna, Fisher, Myrica, and Lain Rajdl -- will talk about how to take care of goats. They will also explain the truth about what goats eat, describe what goats do all day, and give examples of how kid goats like to play. Children will be able to pet the goats.

There will be samples of certified goat milk, yogurt, and cheese to eat. Children will also read stories about goats and make a project to take home.

The Portage Lake District Library will host the Stamp Collecting group from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 21. The group will meet at the table at the back of the library.

Beginner and experienced stamp collectors as well as those who are curious about stamp collecting are welcome. People who want help organizing their loose stamps are invited to bring them to this meeting.

Library programs are free and open to all. For more information please call the library at 482-4570 or visit www.pldl.org.

Lake Superior Mining News: Federal Agencies criticize Rio Tinto’s new mine hauling plan (County Road 595)

By Gabriel Caplett
Posted on Lake Superior Mining News

MARQUETTE -- The Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have issued strong criticisms of "County Road 595," a revamped Woodland Road. The road was originally pursued by Rio Tinto through Woodland Road LLC; Rio Tinto is now having the Marquette County Road Commission pursue permits for its mine hauling road. It is now up to the EPA to object to the project, permit it, or require conditions before approval. Click on the three links below for information from the two federal agencies and the road commission.

Read the Army Corps’ comments, sent Mar. 29, 2012, to Peter Swenson, US EPA, Chicago.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s comments, sent Apr. 5, 2012, to Ms. Melanie Haveman, US EPA, Chicago.

The Marquette County Road Commission’s Apr. 5, 2012, response to the Army Corps’ comments.

Hancock Tori to hold meeting Apr. 24

HANCOCK -- A meeting for all those interested in Hancock's Tori market -- sellers, customers and friends -- will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Apr. 24, at Studio Pizza in Hancock, across from the Tori location on Quincy Street.

The Tori will open on Saturday, June 2, this year. Hours will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays.

If you can attend the meeting Tuesday, please email Sandy Soring at sandysoring@charter.net or call her at 337-1391.

Green Film Series to present documentary on climate-change solutions Apr. 19

HOUGHTON -- The Green Film Series continues on Thursday, April 19, with Carbon Nation, a documentary about climate-change solutions. The film portrays how tackling climate change can boost the economy; increase national and energy security; and promote a healthy, clean environment.

The film is free; the suggested donation is $3. The showing will be followed by coffee, tea, dessert and an audience discussion facilitated by Prof. Sarah Green, Michigan Tech Chemistry Department chair.

The session, which will begin at 7 p.m., will be in the Atrium and G002 of Hesterberg Hall in the Forestry building.

The Green Film Series is sponsored by the Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative, Keweenaw Land Trust, Michigan Tech's Center for Water and Society and the Keweenaw Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.

The series is partially funded with a grant from the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country, the Friends of the Land of Keweenaw and the UP Environmental Coalition.

Updated: Public comments on Brockway Mountain tower location to be allowed at Keweenaw County Board meeting Apr. 18

By Michele Bourdieu

KEWEENAW COUNTY -- The Keweenaw County Board of Commissioners Chair says he will allow public comment on the Brockway Mountain cell phone tower issue at the Board's monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. TONIGHT, Wednesday, Apr. 18, at the Courthouse in Eagle River, despite the fact that the Board has already made a decision on the issue. The agenda for tonight's meeting includes an item titled "Open Meeting Compliance."

"If somebody wants to comment on (this issue), we'll save time at the end of the meeting (3 minutes per comment) when they can have their say," Ernest Mooney, Keweenaw County Board chair, told Keweenaw Now on Tuesday, Apr. 17. "But the Board is not going to re-hear this. The decision's been made, and we're standing by our decision."

Mooney noted the reason the area lacks cell phone service is that Brockway Mountain blocks the signal -- thus the location for a tower that will be higher than the mountain.

This image from the Friends of Brockway Mountain Facebook page includes this comment: "On a USGS topo map the red dot/cross is the proposed Brockway Tower location. This tower and its lights at night will be obvious from Copper Harbor, Keweenaw Mtn Lodge, Lake Medora, Brockway summit, US 41, and..... forever." Click on image for larger version. (Image courtesy Friends of Brockway Mountain)

A group of citizens concerned about the fact that public comments on this issue were not allowed at the Board's February meeting is suing Keweenaw County on the basis of the Michigan Open Meetings Act.

The Keweenaw County Board of Commissioners voted in December 2011 to approve building a cell phone tower (one of three towers approved for Keweenaw County) on Brockway Mountain -- an important flyway for migrating birds and a tourist attraction for the birders who like to watch and count them. Since that Board decision, a group of concerned citizens called the Friends of Brockway Mountain, along with other interested residents and visitors, have protested the location for the tower. Many even signed a petition against the location.

Mooney said he is aware of the birders' concerns, but he believes birds will get used to this type of tower and fly around it just as they would fly around a tree.

"They're free-standing towers. There are no guy wires on them," Mooney explained. "Birds can fly around them. Birds aren't idiots. They're pretty smart."

This osprey is typical of birds observed from Brockway Mountain, which is also a site for the Keweenaw Raptor Survey. (Photo © and courtesy Michael Shupe Photography. See more photos at www.mjshupephotography.com.)

Update: Joseph Youngman, who works on the Keweenaw Raptor Survey, sent Keweenaw Now an update saying, "I can't see that a tower placed near the east end of the Brockway ridge would disrupt the raptor survey. Nor would it harm many raptors. It almost certainly would harm many passerine (warblers, sparrows, thrushes, etc.) birds however. The death toll on passerines from towers is well documented."

Alex Protzel, a Copper Harbor resident and landowner, who is one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the county, said he was "disappointed" that the Board did not allow public comment at the February meeting.*

"I think that many many people -- people who live here, people who visit here -- all seem to be appalled at the thought of a cell phone tower on Brockway Mountain Drive," Protzel said. "I'm happy to see that so many people are against it. I feel there's a better plan for accomplishing the same goal of providing cell phone service to this area."

Protzel and others opposed to the potential Brockway location of the tower say they are not against having cell phone service and recognize the need for it as far as safety, communications and emergency services are concerned.

"I would love to have it. Cell phone service would increase my quality of life," Protzel said. "Tourists come up here and have to scramble to find a pay phone. That's not good."

Copper Harbor has only one pay phone -- at Zik's Bar, he noted.

Residents hope to propose alternative tower locations

Protzel said he wanted to comment at the February Board meeting in order to suggest some other options for the tower location. One would be redevelopment of the currently existing communications tower at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge (Both the Lodge and the tower are owned by Keweenaw County). Since this tower is only 120 ft. high, it would have to be modified.

Another solution is to follow up on the new bill (HB 5342) that would allow co-location of cell phone equipment on State of Michigan towers, Protzel noted.**

"My main goal is just to send the tower company back to the drawing board to look at other options, because their present location is detrimental to the character of the area," he added.

On Tuesday, Apr. 17, Protzel told Keweenaw Now he has some new information from a radio engineer who ran some recent tests that showed substantial coverage potential from locations other than the Brockway location. These include a possible site on the west side of East Bluff as well as the State of Michigan police tower.

Protzel described the site on the west side of East Bluff as "absolutely superior to the Brockway location."

The 450-ft high State of Michigan police tower is located on the eastern side of East Bluff, a few miles east of Copper Harbor, and is used by local law enforcement and fire departments for radio communications.

Keweenaw County Sheriff Ron Lahti said the Sheriff's Department would love to see cell phone coverage in the area, especially since people can't even call 911.

"I wouldn't have the expertise to comment on the best location, but I would like to see cell phone service in that area to assist us in responses to emergency situations," Sheriff Lahti said.

Copper Harbor business owner Peg Kauppi, who is also a plaintiff in the lawsuit, said the Friends of Brockway Mountain have been doing research about alternatives to the Brockway Mountain location.

"There is no doubt that we need service because of the hundreds of thousands of visitors to the area. But our group feels strongly that there is a good way to do this and it doesn't involve destroying the view of Brockway," Kauppi said. "We're just heartsick that people would even CONSIDER desecrating Brockway."

Kauppi noted the mountain will stand in the way of the west side of the town of Copper Harbor.

This photo, taken from a lookout point on Brockway Mountain Drive, looking east, offers a view of the town of Copper Harbor, the harbor at left and Lake Fanny Hooe at right. The cell tower location would be about 3/4 of a mile west of this lookout point. (File photo by Keweenaw Now)

"From what we understand, the Brockway tower would not give coverage to the west end of the Harbor," Kauppi said. "We are looking into the probability that the police tower (at East Bluff) would."

Kauppi said the Friends of Brockway group heard from people with technical expertise that the State Police tower has better coverage for Copper Harbor than a tower on Brockway would have. She also noted another possibility is that a private land owner on East Bluff has said he would be willing to put a tower there.

"Our group is also interested in this as an alternative. We went to the (February) meeting with excitement that we could offer something besides our general disapproval of their (the County Board's) decision. We wanted to ask them if they could notify the cell tower people that they had other ideas."

Kauppi described that February meeting as a "surreal experience" watching people denied the right to comment on this issue.

"The chair actually used his gavel and said he didn't want any more dead bird stories. Our group made it clear we weren't interested in dead bird stories either and that we had new information that would possibly benefit the county/residents. Mr. Mooney told us very loud and clear that he wouldn't hear anything on the cell tower issue. I definitely intended to speak that night," Kauppi said. "This (lawsuit) is not about money -- we want no financial gain. We want acknowledgment that our rights were trampled and that this will not continue in the future."

County officials approved tower locations in December 2011

Keweenaw County Commissioner and Vice-Chair Don Piche said the reason people weren't allowed to comment on the tower issue at the February meeting is that it wasn't an issue at that meeting, since it had been voted on in December.***

"If you want to talk about something that's not going on at the meeting you have to put yourself on the agenda," Piche explained.

Although Board Chair Mooney said he would allow public comments on this issue at tonight's meeting, he noted the Board is going to adopt a change to the meeting bylaws to include the requirement of putting oneself on the agenda to comment on anything not pending before the Board.

Keweenaw County Clerk Julie Carlson explained people would have to request being on the agenda by the Friday preceding any Wednesday meeting.

Piche noted also that the residents and business owners in Grant Township had expressed much support for the cell phone tower and were "even in support of having it on Brockway."

County Commissioner Frank Stubenrauch said, speaking for himself and not for the County Board, that he would be willing to listen to alternatives to the Brockway site.

"I'm willing to listen to alternatives they have if there are any logical and affordable ones," Stubenrauch told Keweenaw Now recently. "No decision is 'inscribed in stone.'"

Stubenrauch (who was absent from the December 2011 meeting because of illness) noted the Board's position was that the County had followed procedures religiously, holding public hearings on the issue and following the zoning ordinance protocol.

Lawsuit claims Open Meetings Act violation

The lawsuit against the County Board, however, is only "an action to compel compliance and enjoin further noncompliance with the Michigan Open Meetings Act (OMA), MCL 15.261 et seq," according to their Complaint, which also states, "The defendant's refusal to allow plaintiffs to address the Board was in direct violation of Section 3 of the Open Meetings Act, MCL 15.263(5)."

The Complaint cites Section 3 of the OMA, which states, "A person shall be permitted to address a meeting of a public body under rules established and recorded by the public body. The legislature or a house of the legislature may provide by rule that the right to address may be limited to prescribed times at hearings and committee meetings only." [MCL 15.263(5)]****

The Complaint also states the following: "The only rule provided by the Board for such meetings is that citizens stand, state their name and limit their comments to three minutes. There is no restriction as to content and any such restriction would clearly violate Section 3 of the OMA."

According to Protzel, the Open Meetings Act does not allow a public body to restrict content in the way the Keweenaw County Board restricted it at its February meeting.

"As long as the content is germaine to the county, I think it should be allowed," Protzel said.

Another plaintiff in the lawsuit, Frank Fiala, agreed an issue doesn't have to be on the agenda to speak to it. He noted Chairman Mooney, at the February meeting, had asked Protzel the nature of his comment before he began to speak.

"Under the Public Meetings Act, the chairman cannot predetermine who is going to speak or what they're going to speak on," Fiala said. "We attended the Board of Commissioners meeting in February with the intent of expressing our views on the proposed location of the cell phone tower on Brockway Mountain," Fiala said. "The indication was clear by the demeanor of the chairman that he was not going to allow any comment whatsoever on that issue, and so therefore we all got up and left."

Fiala, a former Keweenaw National Historical Park superintendent, said he joined Friends of Brockway Mountain because of his interest in birds and also in the history of the area.

"I'm interested in watching the birds fly. I have a background in raptor research," Fiala said.

He also noted his concern about the historical importance of Brockway Mountain and its connection to the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, which is a historic resource since it was built by the WPA during the Depression years.

This photo, with a cell phone tower imposed, shows how the tower on Brockway would affect the view from U.S. 41 going into Copper Harbor from the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge. (Photo courtesy Chris Schmidt) Click here to see a slide show with more photos of the Brockway viewshed vs. the proposed cell phone tower.

In this case the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has to approve the cell phone tower. Fiala said he doesn't think the consultants for the cell phone tower company, who are working with the county, are aware of the historical resources involved. Any time federal permits or funding are involved, the NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) process, which includes the State Historical Preservation Office, is involved. In this case, Michigan State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) Section 106 Consultation Guidelines for Cellular Communications Projects should be observed.

Section 106 states the following:

"While acknowledging that the APE (Area of Potential Effects) is dependent upon the circumstances of the project, the SHPO recommends the following APE boundaries for cellular communications projects in Michigan:
1. For construction of new towers or increasing the height of an existing tower (either through colocation or through an addition to the actual tower)
· 0.5 mile radius for structures up to 150 feet
· 1 mile radius for structures 151-250 feet
· 1.5 mile radius for structures 251-350 feet
· 2 mile radius for structures 351-450 feet
· Exceptionally tall towers (450 feet or more) will have an accordingly larger APE.
Topography, vegetation, non-historic development, and the character of any historic properties in the area can affect the size of the APE. Michigan has a fairly flat topography, making tall structures visible for a great distance. Structures placed on higher elevations will also have increased visibility. Such factors may justify increasing the APE regardless of tower height."*****

According to Protzel, "The first phase of the SHPO review in January has prompted the tower company to revise their initial plans of the 220 foot Brockway tower (with lights) to a 199 foot tower with no lights. Any tower under 200 feet is not required to have lighting per FCC regulations. That doesn't mean it won't have lights, but I believe they are scaling back the tower design, as the pressure mounts from various entities. I cannot confirm why the tower height was changed from 220 to 199, but I am inferring this from various conversations. While it is encouraging to see the wheels of analysis in motion beyond our local area, I hope that various historical and environmental reviews will find that the Brockway cell tower location is ultimately a poor location."

Protzel noted also this tower would be visible from the lake, lakeshore, Fort Wilkins, the Copper Harbor Lighthouse, and Brockway Mountain Drive. It would also loom over the newly acquired Hunter's Point (phase 2) land acquisition. (Click here for an aerial shot of that acquisition.)

Fiala added, "We're not against cell phone coverage in Copper Harbor, but it has to be done in a way that doesn't denigrate the natural environment."

Notes:

* The minutes for the Board of Commissioners' Feb. 15, 2012, meeting state the following: "Time was allowed for public comment but the Board did not accept comment on the proposed cell phone tower as the decision was made at all local levels of government already and the issue was not up for discussion at this meeting nor was it on the agenda." Click here for those minutes.

** See House Bill 5342.

*** See the minutes of the Dec. 20, 2011, Keweenaw County Planning Commission public hearing and meeting for details on the towers (Brockway is one of three locations for cell phone towers). The minutes seem to indicate more supporters than opponents of the Brockway tower location. Both Ed Kisiel, Eagle Harbor Township Supervisor, and Evan McDonald, Keweenaw Land Trust executive director, spoke in opposition to the Brockway tower location. Three special use permits were approved for the towers, including the one at the Brockway location.

The Dec. 21 Keweenaw County Board of Commissioners meeting minutes record the Board's vote on the special use permits for the towers: "Motion by Mooney supported by Piche to follow the recommendation of the Planning Commission to approve the three Special Use Permits applied for by SBA Towers III, LLC for towers at the following locations: 14107 Brockway Mountain Drive, 12396 US 41 near Lake Medora and at 9779 US 41 near Delaware. Board polled. Ayes: Mooney, Piche, Rajala, Eckloff. Nayes: None. Motion carried." (Commissioner Frank Stubenrauch was absent from this meeting because of illness.)

At the Dec. 22, 2011, meeting of the Keweenaw County Zoning Board of Appeals, a public hearing was held to consider a request by SBA Towers III LLC and Verizon Wireless for a fall zone variance for the Brockway tower. Both Eagle Harbor Township Supervisor Ed Kisiel and Keweenaw Land Trust Executive Director Evan McDonald again expressed opposition. After a 3 - 2 vote approval of the variance by the ZBA, Kisiel asked to go on record as saying, "You are in violation of the ordinance article 19.2 a and b and 19.6 rules for granting a variance." (The Keweenaw County Zoning Ordinance is available on the Eagle Harbor Township Web site under Document Archive.)

**** Click here for text of the Michigan Open Meetings Act.

***** Click here for the Section 106 Guidelines.

Michigan LCV: What the U.P. Mining Boom Means for Michigan

Rio Tinto / Kennecott Eagle Mine near Big Bay, Mich. At right is Eagle Rock, a sacred Ojibwe site, under which the mining company is blasting an entry to the mine. (Photo © Jeremiah Eagle Eye and courtesy standfortheland.com. Reprinted with permission.)

By Michigan League of Conservation Voters
Posted April 16, 2012 on Michigan LCV "Political Week in Review"

The Great Lakes Echo had an article today on the resurgence of mining in the Upper Peninsula, detailing both the economic factors driving it and the environmental concerns over it. The Kennecott Eagle Rock mine is especially troublesome, creating numerous environmental concerns over its development. First, it will create a heavily-trafficked new road through "previously untouched forest and wetland areas," rather than using existing road. Second, it will be dug out right beneath the headwaters of the Salmon Trout River, the spawning grounds for the rare coaster brook trout. Finally, and perhaps most astonishing in its disregard to local tradition, the tunnel opening was literally blown out of a sacred Ojibwe spiritual site.*

As has happened before with sulfide mines across the country, the greatest fear is that sulfide waste may leak into the watershed or that the mine's roof could collapse underneath the river's headwaters.

Four groups are suing to stop the mine: the National Wildlife Federation, the Huron Mountain Club, the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve, and the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community. Their case was dismissed in November, but they appealed to the Court of Appeals in December. How courts interpret and apply Michigan environmental laws are central to how cases like these are decided. For that reason, we'll launch our new Green Gavels accountability tool in the next few weeks so that ordinary citizens can understand the impact that the Michigan Supreme Court -- whose decisions bind all other Michigan courts -- has on the ability of citizens to prevent environmental harm to our state.**

Holding our elected officials accountable on how well they protect our environment is what Michigan LCV does. For those who aren't as aware of the important work we do, though, please check out our cool new video. If you enjoy it as much as we do, please forward it to five friends. Share it on Facebook, Twitter, and Google. The more people that pitch in to let policy makers know they are being held accountable, the better we can all protect the places in Michigan that we all love. (Incidentally, the first fifteen seconds are on that very subject).***

* Read this article, "More U.P. mining in Michigan’s U.P. worries enviros," on the Great Lakes Echo.

** Read about Michigan LCV's Green Gavels.

*** Click here to see the Michigan LCV's new video on YouTube.

Click here to read more articles on the Michigan LCV's latest "Political Week in Review."

Editor's Note: Thanks to Michigan LCV's Ryan Werder for sharing these articles with Keweenaw Now.

Sen. Levin: Senate Floor Statement on the Paying a Fair Share Act

Posted April 16, 2012

WASHINGTON, DC -- Mr. President, one of the unfortunate characteristics of the American economy for the last few decades has been the rising gap between upper and middle-income Americans. Increasingly, those in the upper echelons of income and wealth have seen their fortunes rise, while the vast majority of Americans have coped with stagnant income and increasing insecurity. In recent decades, most families have had to cope with a reduced ability to afford the things middle-class Americans once took for granted -- a comfortable home, college educations for the kids, and a secure retirement. At the same time, incomes have risen remarkably for those at the very top of the income scale. Today, by some measures, income inequality is greater in our country than at any time since just before the Great Depression.

This should worry us all. It should worry us because a way of life has become endangered. That way of life -- one in which, if you work hard, play by the rules and plan for the future, you and your family will prosper -- came to be known as the "American way." But increasingly, the American way has been replaced by one in which the very wealthy do well while everyone else struggles. Instead of all boats rising together, it is the yachts that have risen -- good economy or bad -- while all the other boats have been stuck in place and taking on water.

Today we have a chance to begin the work of closing that income gap between the wealthiest Americans and the middle class. We can, by adopting this motion to proceed, begin the debate on how best to address the worrisome and growing gap. But that debate cannot begin unless our colleagues on the Republican side agree to allow it to begin....

Click here to read the rest of Sen. Levin's Senate Floor Statement.

Two Big Bay residents to address air quality concerns at Rio Tinto London meeting Apr. 19

BIG BAY, MICH. -- Two Upper Peninsula women are traveling to London, England, to attend the Rio Tinto Annual General Meeting taking place April 19, 2012.

Carla Champagne of the grassroots citizens group Concerned Citizens of Big Bay and Cynthia Pryor of the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve plan on attending the Rio Tinto AGM meeting for two reasons: 1) the lack of air monitors at or near Rio Tinto / Kennecott's Eagle Mine and 2) Rio Tinto / Kennecott's intention to remove air filter controls from the Main Vent Air Raise of the Eagle Mine.

"Air Quality is of prime importance to the people and community of Big Bay," states Carla Champagne. "We are directly downwind; and no one -- including Kennecott and the DEQ (Michigan Department of Environmental Quality) -- knows what is currently in the air coming from this mine, or, even more importantly, what will be coming from the mine once they are in full operation. There are no air monitors either at the mine or anywhere near Big Bay. We will be asking the Rio Tinto Board of Directors and their shareholders for a comprehensive air quality program to be installed in the region -- a program that will be regulated by the DEQ, monitored by DEQ-approved third party scientists -- and all costs paid for by Kennecott."

Cynthia Pryor considers this meeting an opportunity to express outrage at Kennecott’s new Air Quality application to remove the air filter controls from the Main Vent Air Raise, which will be used as the only exhaust for all the underground mine workings of the Eagle Mine.

"This 65-foot high stack sits within 150 feet of the Salmon Trout River," Pryor said. "We worked hard to get the air filter included as part of Kennecott’s original Air Quality permit as they intended the mine exhaust to be vented directly to the air. Now, they are back pedaling and want this air filter to be removed. We are vehemently opposed to such a notion, and we wish to make this clear to the Rio Tinto Board."

Rio Tinto filed their new Air Quality permit March 20, 2012; and the DEQ Air Quality Division is currently evaluating it. Public hearings for this application have been requested for Big Bay and Lansing. The application is on the DEQ website at http://www.deq.state.mi.us/aps/AppsOfInterest.shtml.