Front 40's top 11 Reasons To Be Concerned About Mining In Menominee County:

with responses to consider from other individuals, companies, or organizations.

The mission of this web site is to provide a forum for information, proposals, and ideas on the use and development of a mineral mine in Lake Township of Menominee County Michigan so you can make more informed decisions about a course of action.
Click on word or picture links for more information.

Front 40s' concerns Responses from Mineral Processing Corporation

1.      Zinc, copper, gold and silver mining is more hazardous to the environment than the Iron mining we know in Upper Michigan. Every farm, paper mill, mine and other industrial facility has the potential to cause harm to the environment. The key is to build in the systems and controls that prevent harmful pollution from entering the environment. Each type of mine requires specific technologies and approaches to make it environmentally friendly. The UP has a long history of mining, with copper mining going back 5,000 years and gold, silver and iron mines being worked since the early 1800s. Each type of mining can be done safely.

2.      Contamination is bound to occur no matter how diligent the operators are. All potentials for contamination will be addressed so that contamination does not occur. Modern mines are designed, permitted, operated and reclaimed so that the environment is protected and enhanced. A multi-year permitting process involving local, state and federal agencies will ensure that any mine developed in Menominee County is the safest, cleanest mine in the world.

3.      There are no proven cost effective technologies for the acceptable long-term mitigation of potential impacts. Proven cost effective technologies exist to prevent and or mitigate all potential impacts. State and federal permits require that the water, air, soil, plants, animals and other natural and cultural resources be protected. All potential impacts must be addressed in the permitting process.

4.      The Menominee River is a breeding bed for the sturgeon, the bald eagle is on the threatened specie list - they will not survive the heavy metal runoff from a mine. Heavy metal runoff would not be permitted by the regulatory agencies or by the mining company. Sturgeon, eagles and all wildlife are important to us all and to the quality of life in Menominee County. A mine similar to the one envisioned in Menominee County exists in Ladysmith, Wisconsin. Sitting on the banks of the Flambeau River in Ladysmith the Flambeau Mine was developed, operated and reclaimed at great benefit to the community and without harm to the river.
Fishing guide Joe Flater, owner of Flater’s Flambeau Point Resort has been guiding fishermen on the Flambeau and Chippewa Rivers for decades. Joe says the fishing has never been better on the Flambeau and one of the four guided fishing tours he offers is on the Flambeau right beside the Flambeau Mine site.

5.      There has never been a metallic mineral mine in the World that has not polluted. In an absolute sense, every time we turn on the lights, start our cars or even breathe, we cause some minute level of pollution. The challenge is to operate our modern society with the amenities such as lights and cars in a fashion that minimizes and controls pollution. Modern mines can be designed and operated so that no harmful pollution is emitted to the environment. In fact, over the past 200 years hundreds of copper, gold, and silver mines have operated in the UP, and even without the benefit of the modern mining technologies that we have today, the UP remains an environmentally diverse and wonderful place.

6.      Our Michigan mining laws are weak and favor the drilling/mining operations; not our groundwater. Metallic mineral mines are not subject to stringent hazardous waste management laws, even if it contains cyanide. There are stringent laws in place in Michigan to protect the air, water and earth around us. These laws apply to everyone including companies in the mining business. Chemical solvents are all tightly regulated and are part of the industrial processing that occurs across the state and country. Mining companies are bound by the same laws and regulations as every other business and individual. Michigan law encourages mining because we all need the products from mining to live in our modern society. Without mining we would have no cars, no computers, no electricity – in short none of the things that make our lives what they are.

7.      Once our groundwater, lakes, river, streams are lost, it will take generations to repair. We would leave the clean-up costs to our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The key to preserving clean water and other natural resources for future generations is good planning and strict enforcement of the dozens of environmental regulations that are in place in the state and federal level. The complex set of regulatory requirements and permits – all of which much be in place before any mining can begin – assures citizens that new development will be done in an environmentally sound fashion. Everyone wants a green and clean environment for themselves and their children.

8.      A change in our climate, such as our heavy snowfall of 1960 and 1965, will pose Spring flooding. If the mine site is not designed for these extremes Mother Nature can put on this County; we will have an environmental disaster. This is a major reason for the Acid Mine Drainage problems in Canada’s mining - insufficient planning for extreme heavy snowfalls. During this permitting process all of the potential issues from spring flooding and groundwater purity to rare and endangered plants and cultural resources will be exhaustively researched and addressed. The mine development plan and the acquisition of all of the required permits typically takes from 3 to 5 years.
We encourage interested citizens to participate in the process and bring all concerns to the table during the permitting process.

9.      Once Acid Mine Drainage starts, it can effectively sterilize an entire water system for generations to come. The addition of limestone or other buffering agents is a simple, natural and practical way to neutralize acidity.   Acid drainage is one of the many issues that will be addressed in the permitting process. Fortunately, acid drainage can be managed and prevented as demonstrated at the Flambeau Mine.

10.   The overburden from metallic mineral mining will leach acid from the exposed rock for as long as it is exposed to air and water until the sulphides are leached out. A process that can last hundreds, even thousands of years. As mentioned above, acid drainage must be addressed in the permitting process and can be prevented or neutralized.

11.   There is a known Exploration Site (drilling) in British Columbia called the Windy Craggy that is presently generating Acid Mine Drainage. This is evidence that even in the drilling phase of mineral mining, precautions must be taken or our groundwaters will be polluted. State of Michigan requirements for plugging drill holes from bottom to top effectively removes any potential for acid generation related to drilling

12. Minerals Processing Corporation welcomes a dialogue concerning the potential impacts of mining in Menominee County. On one fundamental point we agree completely with the Front Forty:
If there is going to be a mine in Menominee County, it needs to be the best mine in the world.
In addition to discussing the details of the mine and the protections for the environment, we look forward to the 200-300 jobs (the majority filled by local equipment operators, truck drivers, electricians, secretaries, accountants, miners, etc.), to being a major contributor to school, township and county taxes and to providing a boost to economic development in Menominee County.

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Front 40s' concerns	Responses from Mineral Processing Corporation
1. Zinc, copper, gold and silver mining is more hazardous to the environment than the Iron mining we know in Upper Michigan.	Every farm, paper mill, mine and other industrial facility has the potential to cause harm to the environment. The key is to build in the systems and controls that prevent harmful pollution from entering the environment. Each type of mine requires specific technologies and approaches to make it environmentally friendly. The UP has a long history of mining, with copper mining going back 5,000 years and gold, silver and iron mines being worked since the early 1800s. Each type of mining can be done safely.
2. Contamination is bound to occur no matter how diligent the operators are.	All potentials for contamination will be addressed so that contamination does not occur. Modern mines are designed, permitted, operated and reclaimed so that the environment is protected and enhanced. A multi-year permitting process involving local, state and federal agencies will ensure that any mine developed in Menominee County is the safest, cleanest mine in the world.
3. There are no proven cost effective technologies for the acceptable long-term mitigation of potential impacts.	Proven cost effective technologies exist to prevent and or mitigate all potential impacts. State and federal permits require that the water, air, soil, plants, animals and other natural and cultural resources be protected. All potential impacts must be addressed in the permitting process.
4. The Menominee River is a breeding bed for the sturgeon, the bald eagle is on the threatened specie list - they will not survive the heavy metal runoff from a mine.	Heavy metal runoff would not be permitted by the regulatory agencies or by the mining company. Sturgeon, eagles and all wildlife are important to us all and to the quality of life in Menominee County. A mine similar to the one envisioned in Menominee County exists in Ladysmith, Wisconsin. Sitting on the banks of the Flambeau River in Ladysmith the Flambeau Mine was developed, operated and reclaimed at great benefit to the community and without harm to the river. Fishing guide Joe Flater, owner of Flater’s Flambeau Point Resort has been guiding fishermen on the Flambeau and Chippewa Rivers for decades. Joe says the fishing has never been better on the Flambeau and one of the four guided fishing tours he offers is on the Flambeau right beside the Flambeau Mine site.
5. There has never been a metallic mineral mine in the World that has not polluted.	In an absolute sense, every time we turn on the lights, start our cars or even breathe, we cause some minute level of pollution. The challenge is to operate our modern society with the amenities such as lights and cars in a fashion that minimizes and controls pollution. Modern mines can be designed and operated so that no harmful pollution is emitted to the environment. In fact, over the past 200 years hundreds of copper, gold, and silver mines have operated in the UP, and even without the benefit of the modern mining technologies that we have today, the UP remains an environmentally diverse and wonderful place.
6. Our Michigan mining laws are weak and favor the drilling/mining operations; not our groundwater. Metallic mineral mines are not subject to stringent hazardous waste management laws, even if it contains cyanide.	There are stringent laws in place in Michigan to protect the air, water and earth around us. These laws apply to everyone including companies in the mining business. Chemical solvents are all tightly regulated and are part of the industrial processing that occurs across the state and country. Mining companies are bound by the same laws and regulations as every other business and individual. Michigan law encourages mining because we all need the products from mining to live in our modern society. Without mining we would have no cars, no computers, no electricity – in short none of the things that make our lives what they are.
7. Once our groundwater, lakes, river, streams are lost, it will take generations to repair. We would leave the clean-up costs to our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.	The key to preserving clean water and other natural resources for future generations is good planning and strict enforcement of the dozens of environmental regulations that are in place in the state and federal level. The complex set of regulatory requirements and permits – all of which much be in place before any mining can begin – assures citizens that new development will be done in an environmentally sound fashion. Everyone wants a green and clean environment for themselves and their children.
8. A change in our climate, such as our heavy snowfall of 1960 and 1965, will pose Spring flooding. If the mine site is not designed for these extremes Mother Nature can put on this County; we will have an environmental disaster. This is a major reason for the Acid Mine Drainage problems in Canada’s mining - insufficient planning for extreme heavy snowfalls.	During this permitting process all of the potential issues from spring flooding and groundwater purity to rare and endangered plants and cultural resources will be exhaustively researched and addressed. The mine development plan and the acquisition of all of the required permits typically takes from 3 to 5 years. We encourage interested citizens to participate in the process and bring all concerns to the table during the permitting process.
9. Once Acid Mine Drainage starts, it can effectively sterilize an entire water system for generations to come.	The addition of limestone or other buffering agents is a simple, natural and practical way to neutralize acidity. Acid drainage is one of the many issues that will be addressed in the permitting process. Fortunately, acid drainage can be managed and prevented as demonstrated at the Flambeau Mine.
10. The overburden from metallic mineral mining will leach acid from the exposed rock for as long as it is exposed to air and water until the sulphides are leached out. A process that can last hundreds, even thousands of years.	As mentioned above, acid drainage must be addressed in the permitting process and can be prevented or neutralized.
11. There is a known Exploration Site (drilling) in British Columbia called the Windy Craggy that is presently generating Acid Mine Drainage. This is evidence that even in the drilling phase of mineral mining, precautions must be taken or our groundwaters will be polluted.	State of Michigan requirements for plugging drill holes from bottom to top effectively removes any potential for acid generation related to drilling
	12. Minerals Processing Corporation welcomes a dialogue concerning the potential impacts of mining in Menominee County. On one fundamental point we agree completely with the Front Forty: If there is going to be a mine in Menominee County, it needs to be the best mine in the world. In addition to discussing the details of the mine and the protections for the environment, we look forward to the 200-300 jobs (the majority filled by local equipment operators, truck drivers, electricians, secretaries, accountants, miners, etc.), to being a major contributor to school, township and county taxes and to providing a boost to economic development in Menominee County.