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E-M:/ Empire Mine -- HUGE Wetland fill
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Enviro-Mich message from anne.woiwode@sfsierra.sierraclub.org
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Folks:
Chris Fries of Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition has previously
posted a notice of a hearing on the Empire Mine application for a
STAGGERING project in the Ishpeming area. The hearing was held on Tuesday
night, and Chris and another UPEC person spoke about it.
I find this project so unbelievably large, and with impacts beyond
comprehension, that I feel compelled to raise it again on Enviro-Mich and
encourage more attention and concern about this project. I was startled,
in fact, that this hearing and the permit application do not even show up
on the DEQ Calendar listings -- while there is a lot on the Calendar, it
is inconceivable that something with such huge impacts would simply be
considered so inconsequential as to not need listing on the Calendar. I
am currently trying to find out when the comment period closes on this and
I urge others to weigh in on this. Mining is a big business in the UP,
but that doesn't mean such huge impacts should not be reduced or
eliminated, and it is hard to believe this proposal could be considered
the best possible effort.
Here are the facts taken from information forwarded to me by Chris Fries:
The Empire Mine is seeking to expand an existing mine pit and stockpile
area. Three rock stockpile areas will be expanded under this permit
proposal a total of 254.1 acres, and two pit areas will be developed and
expanded.
A total of approximately 11,187 feet of new perimeter road will also be
constructed within this proposal.
A total of approximately 87.3 acres of wetland area will be destroyed by
this project. The ratio for mitigation is proposed at only 1:1 right now,
well under norms for other wetland mitigation around Michigan. UPEC is
calling for a 1:2 replacment ratio, as well as an escrow fund to assure
the success of mitigation.
Approximately 8,288 lineal feet of streams will be impacted by this
project. Mitigation measures proposed call for the Empire Mine to pay
$8.00 per foot for the stream impacts. These impacts will be permanent
and irreversible. The Marquette County Board is calling for mitigation
payments of $32.00 per foot, and UPEC is calling for significantly more.
There is also some confusion about who would ultimately be responsible for
assuring the mitigation is done.
Downstate we are concerned, I think rightfully so, about impacts on
wetlands sometimes well under an acre. The idea that the proposed
destruction of 87+ acres and more than 8200 feet of stream has brought
little statewide attention is astonishing. And, again, I don't understand
why it didn't even make it to the DEQ Calendar.
I hope you will all take a close look at this issue, and I will try to
post details about comment periods as soon as I get them.
Anne Woiwode
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