Surprise! Days Before the DEQ is No Longer, Decision Made to Put UP Waterways in Danger!

Submitted by Michigan LCV on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 15:24

Days before the newly appointed Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE), Rebecca Humphries, moved into her position, the soon-to-be-dissolved and merged Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) gave final approval of state permits for a dangerous sulfide mine in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

This decision is disappointing and inappropriate, both in terms of the DEQ's interpretation of Michigan's laws and in terms of the timing--"Surprise, Director Humphries! We made a decision before you could even take the helm!"

The conservation community worked very hard, in concert with a host of allies like Save the Wild UP and MI Waters, to put strong laws in place to specifically protect Michigan’s waters, including the Great Lakes. It is absolutely incredible how--despite the host of substantiating documentation and research verifying the flaws in the Kennecott Minerals Co. (a subsidiary of London-based Rio Tinto) permit--the DEQ has chosen to interpret the law in Kennecott's favor. Citizens across the state should know that the toxic byproducts of this kind of mining (basically sulferic acid) has the potential to poison the Salmon Trout River, which drains right into Lake Superior.

Given the questionable decision-making within the DEQ on this issue, we must now rely upon a robust legal battle being waged by the National Wildlife Federation, Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve, Huron Mountain Club, and Keweenaw Bay Indian Community...and hope that our state's judiciary is a bit wiser than those doling out permits in the DEQ.

Check back with Michigan LCV on Tuesday for the latest information and ways you can help us protect our water!

Read the DEQ press release.

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Comments

DEQ decision a disgrace

Submitted by Disgusted (not verified) on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 12:45.

Calling the DEQ decison at the 11th hour (without waiting for the judge's input) slippery is being generous. The words "crooked" and "disgraceful" come to mind. The nature of shoving this through before a new Director takes the reigns underlines the fact that the DEQ knows this is a troubled project, but perhaps those who want to monitor the proposed mine in the future are looking for job stability. Having to enact Lake Superior water clean-up measures after this mine taints the cleanest Great Lake will probably keep them employed for years to come. Here's hoping that ballot initiative can help.