Decision on UP Mine Lease on Hold

By Tina Lam, Detroit Free Press

Jan. 12–The state has delayed a decision on whether to lease land for a controversial new copper and nickel mine in the Upper Peninsula.

Kennecott Eagle Minerals Co. has asked to lease state land for the mine shaft; the ore is on nearby private land. State officials said they need more information from the company on how it will monitor the mine to make sure it doesn’t collapse.

“I commend the DNR for not turning a blind eye to the deficiencies in Kennecott’s permit and having the courage to not automatically green-light a permit to allow this risky mine to move forward,” Cynthia Pryor, executive director of Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve, said in a statement.

The decision not to approve the mine yet is more a speed bump than a roadblock, DNR spokeswoman Mary Dettloff said Friday. “We’ve asked them for more information where they haven’t provided enough.”

Dettloff said DNR chief Rebecca Humphries would announce a decision at a monthly meeting of the Natural Resources Commission, but probably not in February.

The Eagle mine near Big Bay would extract metals from sulfide rock, which can create hazardous by-products. Environmental groups fear the waste could contaminate trout streams and the air.

Kennecott said the mine would be safe, create 120 jobs and bring in millions in tax and mineral revenues for the state and local governments.

Contact TINA LAM at 313-222-6421 or tlam@freepress.com.

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