"There is definitely a potential for resurgence in mining in the U.P., but to what degree I don't know," said Jon Cherry, a project manager for Kennecott Minerals Co., which plans a nickel and copper mine in Marquette County. "The low-hanging fruit, the easily identifiable and developed ore bodies are gone. It's harder and more expensive to develop what remains."

"Mining Madness, Water Wars: The Great Lakes in the Balance" is a timely, compelling documentary that lays bare a controversial proposal to blast a mine beneath a blue ribbon trout stream in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

The 33-minute story is told through the passionate voices of scientists, community activists, tribal officials, and others who care about protecting our most precious asset water. Watch a short excerpt that focuses on one aspect of the controversy — the apparent disregard for Native American treaty rights.

Marquette, MI – Matt Johnson, director of the Governor’s Office for the Upper Peninsula, has resigned from his post and now works for Rio Tinto, the parent company of Kennecott Minerals. The company has an office in Ishpeming, MI, and is seeking to develop a nickel-copper mine on the Yellow Dog Plains, in addition to other mineral projects in the area.

Save the Wild UP--an organization opposing the construction of an environmentally destructive sulfide mine in Michigan's Upper Peninsula--that the United States Fish and Wild Service is soliciting additional public input on whether or not the Coaster Brook Trout should be considered an endangered species. The trout's only remaining spawning grounds is the Salmon Trout River that is threatened by possible pollution from the Eagle Project Sulfide Mine on the Yellow Dog Plains. Save the Wild UP encourages people to review information on the trout and comment. Designating the Coaster Brook Trout as an endangered species could be an important step in preventing the opening of the Eagle Project mine.

Take a moment to think about Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and the nearby patches of Wisconsin, Lake Superior and Lake Michigan that border it. Picture the sparkling waterfalls, blueberries, brook trout and wave-washed shores there — the multitude of reasons so many think of this as God’s Country.
Thing is, change is in the air — and there’s a fair chance that it won’t be a good thing for the unspoiled waters of the U.P. — or for our water quality here, downstream, in Wisconsin.

If the mine comes," she continued, almost in a whisper, "what about the wild blueberries?"

Rio Tinto PLC (RTP) Monday said it will invest $300 million in the development of Eagle, a high-grade nickel and copper mine in Michigan. Eagle, in northwest Marquette County, will be the only primary nickel mine in the U.S.,and first production is expect

Tell the Michgan Department of Environmental Quality to deny the Kennecott Permit Application for a Sulfide Mine on the Yellow Dog Plains. Use our template message to voice your opposition to the DEQ, Gov. Granholm and your elected officials.

"Our unique therapy camp teaches children basic fundamental life skills such as walking, speaking and feeding themselves," said Tim Bennett, Bay Cliff camp director. "The Elks are best friends of the camp, and children and have been part of the Bay Cliff

A request by Kennecott Eagle Minerals Company to exhaust heavy metals dust into the air, discharge polluted water into an underground aquifer, and ruin miles of prized snowmobile trails received a favorable response from state regulators today. Despite an

State regulators said today they have restored their tentative approval for permits related to a proposed Upper Peninsula nickel and copper mine. But there still are several steps to go before the Kennecott Minerals Co. proposal for Marquette County woul

Michigan Department of Environmental Quality officials have received a new geological report on the proposed Kennecott Eagle Minerals Company nickel and copper mine on the Yellow Dog Plains.

Contest for videos to oppose the proposed Kennecott Copper (Rio Tinto) sulfide mine on Michigan's Yellow Dog Plains near Marquette, MI.

Environmentalists are especially concerned about the proposed nickel mine, known as the Eagle Project and run by Kennecott Minerals Co., since it would tap into sulfide ore bodies, which, when exposed to air, produce sulfuric acid as a byproduct.

(never mind that the DEQ wised up that a sulfide mine on unstable ground would pollute groundwater and ruin tourism in the area. A good Onion story if it wasn't so thoroughly wrongheaded)

Northern Thunder will oppose issuing the certificate of completion, Wilson said. There is still too much risk of possible pollution to the Flambeau River and to ground water and some ‘‘very, very serious questions’’ about the long-term success of

MARQUETTE, Mich. -- A Canadian mining company says it will conduct exploratory drilling near the spot in the Upper Peninsula where Kennecott Minerals Co. wants to mine copper and nickel.

But they blew a gasket — in hyped words of the Michigan Environmental Council (MEC) — at the governor for “recklessly endangering the environment” because her Department of Environmental Quality gave preliminary approval for the Kennecott Eagle Mi

‘‘The DEQ’s actions today confirm that their entire decision-making process on this mine has been corrupted,’’ said Michelle Halley, a Marquette-based attorney with the National Wildlife Federation. ‘‘What other reports are out there that we

Director Chester also announced that the public hearings, scheduled for March 6-8 in Marquette and March 12 in Lansing, will be postponed and rescheduled at a later date.

The Department of Environmental Quality announced Thursday that it has withdrawn its proposed decision to approve a permit for the Kennecott Eagle Minerals Company to construct a mine on the Yellow Dog Plains.

Several citizens opposed to Kennecott Eagle Minerals’ proposed mine in the Yellow Dog Plains appeared at the Marquette County Board’s Committee of the Whole meeting Tuesday night to ask the board to reject a resolution supporting the plan.

Kennecott Minerals Co. will have to obtain at least one federal permit before drilling a nickel and copper mine in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says.

“At this time we don’t plan on relocating (our route),” Cherry said, indicating the trucks would travel along Triple-A Road, County Road 510, County Road 550 and U.S. 41 to the Humboldt area, where the ore will be off loaded and shipped out of the c

sulfide mine on the yellow dog plains to come under epa regulation for water quality, permits required, there may be more public hearings

March 12, 2007, Lansing Center.

action center for sending political messages

The additional hearing will be March 12 in Lansing on Kennecott Minerals Co.'s application for permits to build and operate the mine in northwestern Marquette County.

sulfide mine on ceded tribal lands

state reps up in big bay to hear the residents speak their minds

despite 3000 petitions from the area

the meek shall inherit the earth, but they won't get the mineral rights

group organized to protect the Yellow Dog watershed in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan

discussion on "mich-chat" birding list

last updated 1998, but good pictures

On its way to the Michigan legislature - Sierra Club says vote yes