Forwarded Message
ACTION ALERT! Lake Superior Under Attack
Contents
a. Acid Threat to Lake Superior Must Be Stopped
b. Acid Mine Spigot to Lake Superior Given Okay by Michigan and U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency
c. Request for Traditional Cultural Properties Investigation
a. Acid Threat to Lake Superior Must Be Stopped
By Walt Bresette
<bresette@win.bright.net>
Acid threat to Lake Superior must be stopped
As a member of the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council which
advises the U.S. EPA, and as chair of its' Indigenous Subcommittee, I can no
longer lend my name to the agency which places the environment in jeopardy
and itself above the law. On July 10, I submitted my resignation to NEJAC in
protest to the failure of U.S. EPA to uphold Environmental Justice regarding
INMET's White Pine acid mining operation in Michigan's upper peninsula.
This foreign company has already been found guilty of gross violations of
the Clean Air Act, has in their conventional mining breached an ancient sea
bed which is flowing into the mine, and has left a massive metallic sulfide
waste dump on the shores of the Mineral River; but adding 11 billion gallons
of acid solution to this mess is intolerable.
As a Lake Superior Chippewa with Ceded Territory rights I can no longer idly
watch this violation of law and common sense. As a friend and colleague to
many in the Lake Superior basin I cannot ignore the political threats and
economic blackmail of our communities by multinational corporations.
Beginning immediately I call for a grassroots campaign to stop this insanity
before it's too late. If governments and other agencies will do nothing or
act too slowly then it is time for the people to act. This campaign will end
when operations at White Pines have halted, the acid trains stop rolling,
and a full federal environmental impact statement is conducted.
I call on all other concerned citizens to join me in this campaign and speak
out, act out, and stop this threat before it's to late. I encourage other
people to take whatever peaceful action they deem necessary to help save
Lake Superior and to stop the illegal transport of hazardous materials over
unsafe, uninspected tracks. I invite citizens to inspect the tracks of
Wisconsin Central as it passes through your community; if you too find them
unsafe, do what's necessary to prevent a catastrophe.
We will begin a speaking tour through every community through which the acid
trains are travelling. We will hold our own hearings to show the public that
these tracks, this poison, and this acid mine are not wanted, not needed and
not safe - for now and for the future.
I call on Witness groups and other observers to come to Ceded Territory to
report the misdeeds of the state and federal agencies. I ask all supporters
of native rights, environmental sanity and lovers of Lake Superior to join
in this campaign. I call on Anishinabeg Ogitchidag to be on standby in case
those who may act in defense to our lake and our watershed are threatened.
Fifty years from now, if nothing is done now, acid and chloride-laced brine
will beginning flowing into the Mineral River. One hundred from now the
Mineral River and many acres of Lake Superior will not support life. One
hundred and fifty years from now - seven generations - our great, great,
great, great, great grandchildren will wonder what we were thinking when the
acid spigot was turned on in the summer of 1996. Certainly not them.
For more information contact:
Walt Bresette
Lake Superior Alliance
Route 1, Box 117
Bayfield, WI 54814
PH: 715-779-5071
FX: 715-779-3465
Email: bresette@win.bright.net
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b. Acid Mine Spigot to Lake Superior Given Okay by Michigan and U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency
On July 1, 1996 the U.S. EPA (Region V, Chicago Office) authorized the
injection of sulfuric acid solution into an abandoned copper mine five miles
from Lake Superior near Ontonagon, Michigan. The White Pine Mine is owned by
INMET, a Canadian firm which had to cease smelting operations at White Pine
after being found in gross violations of the Clean Air Act.
The White Pine Mine, operated by the Copper Range Corporation (CRC), then
filed for a Michigan permit to recover the remaining copper ore from the
pillars of the abandoned mine. The Michigan Department of Environmental
Quality (MDEQ), after one hearing in January of 1996, gave CRC the go-ahead
in May. The regional EPA authorization was expected within a week of MDEQ's
permit.
NEJAC Puts Temporary Hold on Project
However EPA authorization was withheld temporarily following complaints by
the Red Cliff Chippewa tribe before the U.S. EPA's National Environmental
Justice Environmental Justice Advisory Council on May 30 in Detroit; a
resolution was passed calling on EPA Administrator Carol Browner to overturn
the regional decision until a full Environmental Impact Statement was
completed, until an Environmental Justice Analysis was done, and until the
treaty rights of the Lake Superior Chippewa were taken into account.
In a meager attempt at satisfying the tribe's concerns Region V EPA arranged
a meeting at the White Pine between tribal officials and the INMET
officials. While none of those who attended the mine tour were satisfied,
the EPA immediately authorized the acid injection, arguing that the tribe's
interests were being met. They have further stated that they will meet once
more with the tribes in the future but have refused to stop the operations.
Sulfuric Acid Trains Move North Over Unsafe Tracks
The MDEQ permit was issued the last week of May and sulfuric acid began
moving by rail tanker from Texas to the White Pine Mine. A total of 100
tankers are expected during 1996. The Bad River Chippewa tribe temporarily
stopped the trains when they complained that the tracks across the Bad River
Reservation were unsafe. Following a series of meetings in early June the
acid train continued across Bad River lands.
Federal Rail inspectors said that the tracks were safe despite video
evidence to the contrary showing broken beams in trestles, trees growing on
the tracks, bent and wavering tracks, and an old 900 foot trestle across the
Bad River. Federal inspectors have used Bad River as a stop and go light.
Unfortunately, there were no inspections west and south of Bad River, where
similar problems were videotaped. And, people from Michigan's U.P. say the
tracks are even worse east of the Bad River Chippewa Reservation.
Acid Dump Will Be 1000 Times the Volume of Exxon Valdez Spill
So, despite only one state hearing and no federal hearing, both the state
and the federal government are allowing a foreign company to begin the
process of pouring sulfuric acid solution which eventually will total
11,000,000,000 (Yes, that's BILLION - 1,000 times the volume of the Exxon
Valdez spill) gallons in an abandoned copper mine eleven square miles
underground, adjacent to the Mineral River, which flows just five miles into
Lake Superior - the largest and most pristine fresh water lake on earth.
Federal Action Needed But Ignored
This state and federal action are in violation of both common sense and
their own regulations. Every agency within the Ceded Territory (northern
Wisconsin, Michigan's U.P. and Minnesota's Arrowhead Region) is obligated to
look out for the hunting, fishing, and gathering rights of the Lake Superior
Chippewa - both the state and the federal governments have a fiduciary
responsibility under law.
The U.S. EPA additionally has an obligation under Executive Order 12898,
signed by President Clinton in 1994, to do an Environmental Justice
Analysis. In addition there is the National Environmental Protection Act,
the Safe Drinking Water Act and numerous other acts which should be invoked.
Tribal officials also met with Interior Secretary Bruce Babbit and expressed
their concern and the need for federal oversight.
As a consequence of this inaction, both the Mineral River, eventually Lake
Superior, and probably the groundwater will be irreparably harmed by this
operation. All for profits by a foreign company which after 15 years will
disappear, having exploited our resources, our labor, exported huge profits
and left a mess. And all because the relevant state and federal agencies
who are supposed to look out for the environment and rights have looked the
other way.
Pre-Acid Solution Damages
The White Pine Mine had been doing conventional mining operations between
the early 1950s and 1994 - about forty years. In the process they have
created a hole in the earth about eleven square miles comprised of shafts
which are held up by pillars of earth not yet disturbed. The pillars are
about 30 by 30 feet. It is these pillars that they now wish to mine and
recover the remaining ore, by blowing them up, injecting sulfuric acid
solution, removing the copper ore nad reinjecting the spent acid for
permanent storage in the mine shaft.
The mine sits near Ontonagon, Michigan adjacent to the Mineral River - a
once active but no longer viable trout fishery river. The mineral River
flows five miles north into Lake Superior which near its mouth also has fish
spawning grounds. The White Pine Mine, notable for its large smelting stack
can be seen by those who visit the Porcupine Mountain State Park. The river
has already been damaged by acid mine drainage from the tailings pond used
by the conventional mining operations as well as illegal outflow from the
smelting operations.
Ancient Sea Bed Breached by Mining Operations
In the process of conventional mining operations they breached an ancient
chloride-laced brine aquifer which is now constantly flowing into the mine
shaft. According to mining officials as well as the state MDEQ and U.S. EPA
the incoming brine will within fifty years fill the entire mine shaft,
overflow into the Mineral River and begin flowing into Lake Superior. The
state has been unwilling or unable to hold the mining company liable for
this mining related damage which currently poses a lethal threat to the
Mineral River and to portions of Lake Superior.
Ontonagon Fault Under Lake Superior Breached
Also in the process of conventional mining they encountered a geological
fault (crack) which is within the mine shaft and goes outward underneath
Lake Superior. The crack is currently filled with a gypsum talc substance
and none of the brine is cuurently migrating into the fault. It is unclear
what new blasts, combined with the introduction of acid solution will have
on the current stability of the plugged crack. Computer modeling suggests
that there will be no problems - we guess, assuming there will be no more
geologic activity.
Metallic Sulfide Waste Means Acid Mine Drainage
There is currently on the surface, adjacent to the Mineral River, eleven
square miles of metallic sulfide wastes from the 40 years of conventional
mining. This sits in a wetland next to what was a former trout fishery
river. Certainly one would think that before new wastes are added to this
mess that both the state and the federal government would require some sort
of clean-up or reclamation plan. But, none are. So, some of the solids from
the acid solution mining operation will be added to the top waste pile as
well.
INMET Found Guilty of Gross Violations of Clean Air Act
In 1994, following a suit originated by the National Wildlife Federation and
other Michigan environmental groups and joined by the states of Wisconsin
and Michigan and also by the Regional EPA, INMET agreed to an out of court
settlement on their smelting operations. For many years, in open violation
of the Clean Air Act, they spewed various heavy metals, including mercury
and other particulates into the surrounding environment. In late July a team
comprised of the complainants will begin dispersing the settlement dollars.
Jobs, Jobs - What About the Jobs?
While touring the mine the computer specialist preparing the solution mining
operations said it would take a total of TWO people to run the computerized
operations. I guess the other hundreds of "high paying" mining jobs will be
doing clean-up and maintenance.
But It Is Not Too Late - Certainly to Voice Your Concern
The Tribes on Lake Superior are continuing to seek legal avenues to halt the
threat to their Ceded Territory. Call them and offer your support. The
National Wildlife Federation, who successfully brought suit against INMET
and helped shut down their smelting operation are continuing to explore
possible citizen actions. Call or write them for additional suggestions.
And, the Lake Superior Alliance, at their June meeting, was asked to provide
support to other groups in the rail corridor and will help host information
sessions. Contact your local officials, host information meetings, write
letters to the editors and to the agencies involved.
Official Contacts:
U.S. EPA Office of Environmental Justice
401 M Street SW
Washington, DC 20460
PH: 202-564-2515
FX: 202-501-0740
Environmental Justice National Headquarters
800-962-6215
U.S. EPA Region V Administrator Val Adamkus
77 W. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604
PH: 312-353-2000
FX: 312-353-1120
U.S. Department of Interior: Bureau of Indian Affairs
PH: 202-208-7163
FX: 208-6334
U.S. Department of Interior: Environmental Policy
PH: 505-242-0416
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
PH: 906-885-7000
Other Contacts:
Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC)
715-682-6619
Bad River Chippewa
715-682-7111
Red Cliff Chippewa
715-779-3700
Lake Superior Alliance
Route 1, Box 117
Bayfield, WI 54814
PH: 715-779-5071
FX: 715-779-3465
Email: bresette@win.bright.net
National Wildlife Federation
PH: 313-769-3351
FX: 313-769-1449
Indigenous Environmental Network
PH: 218-751-4967
PH: 218-751-0561
Email: ien@igc.apc.org
For more information contact:
Walt Bresette
Lake Superior Alliance
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c. Request for Traditional Cultural Properties Investigation
Please help prevent the destruction of Lake Superior by sending the letter
that follows to these two addresses:
U.S. EPA Office of Environmental Justice
401 M Street SW
Washington, DC 20460
PH: 202-564-2515
FX: 202-501-0740
U.S. EPA Region V Administrator Val Adamkus
77 W. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604
PH: 312-353-2000
FX: 312-353-1120
Dear _______________
I am concerned about the White Pine Mine being approved by EPA Region V in
Chicago apparently without adequate investigation being conducted for
Traditional Cultural Properties as mandated under Public Law 102-575, The
National Historic Preservation Act.
The secondary effects of this project include the shipment of 11 BILLION
gallson of sulfuric acid across the state of Wisconsin. This could place
countless Traditional Cultural Properties in Jeopardy.
Under
PUBLIC LAW 102-575-Oct. 30, 1992
106 STAT. 4753
Title XL-NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT AMENDMENTS
SEC.4019. DEFINITIONS
(a) AMENDMENT AND ADDITION OF DEFINITIONS.-Section 301 of the National
Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470w) is amended as follows-
(7) [Federal] "Undertaking" means a project, activity, or program funded in
whole or in part under the direct or indirect jurisdiction of a Federal
agency, including-
"(A) those carried out by or on behalf of the agency;
"(B) those carried out with Federal financial assistance;
"(C) those requiring a Federal permit license, or approval; and
"(D) those subject to State or local regulation administered pursuant to a
delegation or approval by a Federal agency.".
Therefore, I ask that a full investigation for Traditional Cultural
Properties be conducted as mandated by Public Law 102-575, Section 106.
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___________________________________________________________________
The only way to mine metallic sulfides safely in Wisconsin is not to mine
at all.
For facts -- with references cited -- about the proposed Exxon/Crandon mine,
visit our web page:
http://www.menominee.com/a-one/mccombs/home.htm
Menominee Nation Treaty Rights & Mining Impacts Office
P.O. Box 910
Keshena, WI 54135
Ph: 715-799-5620
FX: 715-799-4525
Email: nomining@keshena.wi.frontiercomm.net