Grassroots Profile
Sulfide Mining in the U.P. -
A Fight for Our Waters
By Cynthia Pryor, Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve, Inc.
In the summer, our little community of 540
registered voters swells to almost a
thousand folks who are here to enjoy one
thing - the waters and lands of the north
country of the Upper Peninsula (U.P.) of
Michigan. Located in the heart of the Huron
Mountains, even in the depths of winter,
people here know how to have fun. The
innocent joy of the “fun” of this land has
diminished to a dull ache of fear and
dismay, due to one thing - the prospect of a
sulfide mine in the middle of our most
cherished areas - the Yellow Dog Plains.
Many companies are looking for massive
sulfide deposits containing nickel, copper,
uranium, gold, platinum products, and even
diamonds in the wild lands of the Upper
Peninsula. One company wants a mine
NOW to remove an ore body mostly owned
by the State of Michigan and valued in the
billions. This ore body is sitting directly
under a pristine trout stream called the
Salmon Trout River, the last habitat for the
native Coaster Brook Trout on the south
shore of Lake Superior.The proposed mine is
in the middle of one of the state’s Escanaba
River State Forests. It is also in the middle of
a huge aquifer recharge area that feeds at
least five watersheds that are part of the
high quality waters of the Lake Superior
basin.
Why is Sulfide Mining a battle ground for
the Lake Superior basin? One reason:
Sulfuric Acid. The western U.P. has been
targeted by the United States Geologic
Survey as having the greatest potential for
undiscovered massive sulfide ore deposits.
When sulfide rock, ore, or dust comes into
contact with two basic earth elements:
water and air, it starts creating SULFURIC
ACID or battery acid immediately. Any back
filling or reclamation activity to close a
mine must be monitored for decades to
ensure that the mining company has used
the right technology, the right mix of
neutralizers, the right methodologies to
have actually stopped the creation of
Sulfuric Acid or Acid Mine Drainage (AMD).
Nowhere has anyone stopped AMD from
happening.
Who is going to fight the battle for the
lands,waters, wildlife…and the rights of the
people of the State of Michigan to enjoy our
natural resources on state and public lands?
It often falls to environmental grassroots
groups like the Yellow Dog Watershed
Preserve, Inc. The resources we would
normally use for water monitoring, public
outreach, student education programs,
landowner interface and education all are
now being targeted to pay scientists to
perform environmental baseline studies, to
develop public outreach material and hold
public forums to educate the public, to
work within state agencies to promote a
fair legislative process, to work with township,
county and state officials, and to take
calls from people who are asking “What can
we do to help to fight this mine?”
The streams, rivers, springs and lakes of this
region feed into Lake Superior, our Lake
Superior. It is worth more than gold, silver,
nickel or any other precious metal. It is Our
Water, Our Legacy and Our Responsibility,
and it is also our fight. The people of the
State of Michigan must understand the
issues of Sulfide Mining. This is not a
benign mining process that may only
inconvenience a few who do not want a
mine in their backyard - this is an issue that
will affect many, now, and for future
generations.
Disclaimer:
The interpretations and conclusions presented in this newsletter represent the opinions of the individual authors. They in no way represent the views of the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, the C.S. Mott Foundation, subscribers, donors, or any organization mentioned in this publication.
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