"STAND FOR THE LAND" - Help protect Eagle Rock and the Yellow Dog Plains! In the wilds of the Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan-Mine Opponents are now at the site and guarding the sacred Eagle Rock from multinational mining giant Rio Tinto's Kennecott) planned destruction. The mine would pave the way for a new sulfide mining district in the Michigan UP.
Important Update Here
Help STOP the new Sulfide Mining District planned for Michigan's Upper Peninsula!
Click to see "Atop Eagle Rock" with a view of the Yellow Dog Plains in Michigan's Upper Peninsula (UP)
"STAND FOR THE LAND" and protect EAGLE ROCK and the Yellow Dog Plains
from being destroyed by multinational mining giant Rio Tinto (Kennecott).
Kennecott's Eagle Mine Project would pave the way for a new sulfide mining district in the famed
wilds of the U.P. region of Michigan, similar to what the PolyMet project would do in NE Minnesota.
Background
See "HEADWATER NEWS" at www.headwaters.net
See "STAND FOR THE LAND" at www.standfortheland.com
Brief Overview excerpted from www.standfortheland.com
Multinational mining corporations are exploring uranium and metallic sulfide ore bodies throughout Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Due to the dangers of metallic sulfide and uranium mining, a coalition of local citizens, organizations, and tribes has developed to protect our public lands, Great Lakes and quality of life. So far, the Kennecott Eagle Minerals Company (KEMC) is the first to apply for a permit to operate a metallic sulfide mine. The company proposes to blast under a trout stream and through a sacred rock outcrop called Eagle Rock by the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community. Furthermore, the mine is proposed on public land and only 10 miles from Lake Superior. Kennecott’s project could pave the way to a metallic sulfide and uranium mining district throughout Michigan’s wild Upper Peninsula. The situation recently escalated with the unlawful arrest of local Big Bay citizen, Cynthia Pryor for “trespassing” on public lands, which spurred members of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community to occupy Eagle Rock.
Kennecott’s Eagle Project
KEMC is a subsidiary of a foreign multi-national corporation called Rio Tinto (Anglo-Australian). Rio Tinto is heavily criticized for its atrocious human rights track record around the globe. KEMC has named its current project the Eagle Project and completed environmental baseline studies in an area of the Escanaba River State Forest called the Yellow Dog Plains. The company was granted permits from State agencies to begin mining in Michigan under Michigan’s new, weak and untested sulfide mining regulation. We are currently awaiting the results of a contested case hearing and for an underground injection permit from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)—both expected to take place this fall.
Occupation of Eagle Rock - Important Update Here
Members from the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, along with other tribes and non-native people, have chosen to occupy and camp out on public/treaty land. The protesters are gathered at the base of Eagle Rock, a bedrock outcropping and sacred site to the Anishinaabe, where Kennecott has proposed its portal on the Yellow Dog Plains about 25 miles west of Marquette. They say that Kennecott does not have all of the necessary permits and they do not support working with this company as it is notorious for its poor treatment of indigenous peoples around the globe. They plan to camp in the area indefinitely to protect the water and their sacred site as well as to prevent the company from putting up a fence and developing the proposed mine.
Michigan's public lands are threatened by Kennecott, as well as other mining interests,
hoping to open a new Sulfide Mining District in the wilderness of the Upper Peninsula.
See "A Sacred Fire Is Burning at Eagle Rock" at the Huffington Post.
"Around the world, indigenous communities are defending their homelands and sacred sites from mining companies with more urgency than ever. With the fictional Avatar receiving so much media attention, it's important to realize that very real battles between indigenous communities protecting sacred sites and corporations infringing on them are happening in the real world. And not just in exotic corners of the world, but right here in America, in the Great Lakes, where millions get their drinking water.
Rio Tinto has from the beginning played out the role of the big bad mining company in its plans to mine nickel and copper in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The project has been marred by a flawed approval process, with one expert hired by the state insisting the project could collapse on workers. Despite unresponsive regulators and politicians, a persistent grassroots movement has stalled the company plans by years already".www.huffingtonpost.com
See "SAVE THE WILD UP" at www.savethewildup.org
Action Requested Petition to "Support Cynthia Pryor and Our Right to Use Public Lands"
See "BP Disaster: What are we doing to the planet we call Home?" by Elanne Palcich of Chisholm, Minnesota
"American Indians and non-natives are encouraged to visit the northern Michigan campsite that is blocking a sulfide mine - as in sulfuric acid - from being built under Sacred Eagle Rock." www.current.com - Important Update Here
"When officials with the Eagle Mine Project in Michigan's Upper Peninsula arrested Cynthia Pryor for trespassing in April 20, 2010, they didn't count on the public outrage over the jailing of this 58 year old grandmother and longtime environmentalist." www.current.com
See "UP mine threatens sacred tribal rights" by Jessica L. Koski
"For far too long, the voices of affected and concerned Ojibwa people have been ignored in the midst of Kennecott's proposed Eagle Mine in Michigan's Upper Peninsula."
See "Native Americans camp on land leased to mining company" by Eartha Jane Melzer 4/28/2010
"Kennecott opts not to press charges as political pressure grows-The protesters say that they will camp in the area indefinitely in an attempt to prevent the Kennecott Eagle Minerals Co., a subsidiary of Rio Tinto, from developing the mine.
On a blog set up for the protest, supporters are asked to, “Visit the activists at Eagle Rock, and show your support by donating food, water, and wood to keep the sacred fire burning.” They are also asked to contact the Environmental Protection Agency and the Marquette County Commission with concerns about the planned mine.
Mine opponents say that the project will damage the watershed, flora and fauna, and disrupt the hunting and gathering rights guaranteed by treaty. They also say it will disrupt traditional religious practices." Continued at The Michigan Messenger
MARQUETTE -- Concerns about protecting religious freedom intersected with the desire to safeguard public land access when approximately 100 concerned citizens held a Forum Tuesday evening, Apr. 27, in Marquette, in response to Rio Tinto-Kennecott's (RT-K) start of construction on a nickel and copper mine 25 miles west of Marquette. Continued at www.keewenawnow.com
From "HEADWATERS NEWS: Citizen Journalism For the Great Lakes"
go to www.headwatersnews.net
"Taking a Stand”: Sacred Site Celebrated Despite Citizen Arrest
By Gabriel Caplett
Published: April 24, 2010
On Tuesday, a Big Bay resident was arrested for allegedly “trespassing” on a 120 acre tract of public land Rio Tinto wants to mine. Since then, public support for keeping that land public has increased and has inspired some to travel to the proposed mine site, despite ‘no trespassing’ signs posted by the company and the threat of arrest.
Charlotte Loonsfoot and Chelsea Smith, members of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, arrived at Eagle Rock late Friday night on April 23 to “take a stand” for their sacred site and their treaty rights to hunt, fish and gather on lands. Smith is a 20-year old student at the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community College; Loonsfoot is a proud mother of five.
Under the treaties of 1854 and 1842, Ojibwe leaders secured the rights of their people and their future generations to hunt, fish and gather on ceded lands. Kennecott Eagle Minerals and the State of Michigan have not honored these rights. The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community is opposed to metallic sulfide mining on ceded lands at this time.
Loonsfoot and Smith were inspired after the recent arrest of Cynthia Pryor, who was arrested on Tuesday for sitting on a stump with her dog at the base of Eagle Rock. Pryor, a citizen of Big Bay, and an outspoken opponent of Rio Tinto’s Eagle Project, was recently released from the Marquette County Jail on personal recognizance, after declining to bail herself out.
Rio Tinto posted 'no trespassing' signs around Eagle Rock, on public land, after getting a Big Bay resident arrested for "trespassing" at the site
Loonsfoot and Smith plan to camp at the base of Eagle Rock at least for the weekend, perhaps until they stop Rio Tinto’s project that threatens their sacred site and treaty rights.
Rio Tinto proposes to blast a portal through Eagle Rock and mine underneath the Salmon Trout River, a tributary of Lake Superior. Experts have called their project “equivalent to high school level work” and said the mine could collapse.
When asked what prompted the pair to travel to Eagle Rock, Loonsfoot said she was inspired after Pryor’s arrest and strong stance in support of public land rights. Looking out over the Yellow Dog Plains from atop Eagle Rock, Loonsfoot said, “I feel like I have a reason to be here. I have been putting tobacco in the water for the water spirit—she can use me to protect here. . .and here I am”.
Friends and supporters of Loonsfoot and Smith will be joining them this evening as they prepare for ceremonies at Eagle Rock. They said they welcome supporters to stop by.
EAGLE ROCK needs you to Get Involved
From "STAND FOR THE LAND" go to www.standfortheland.net
Action Requested -The Environmental Protection Agency needs to hear from you.
Write the EPA, and state your concerns regarding Kennecott. Demand that Kennecott obtain a federal underground wastewater injection permit.
UIC Branch (WU- 16J)
U.S. EPA
77 W. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604
Click HERE for a Sample Letter to the EPA
Click HERE for a Sample Letter to the EPA
Action Requested-Visit the activists at Eagle Rock, and show your support by donating food, water, and wood to keep the sacred fire burning. - Important Update Here
Directions to Eagle Rock from Marquette Michigan
Follow the Signs!
From Marquette: Get onto County Road 550 north of Marquette, heading toward Big Bay. Drive 25 miles
along County Road 550 going northwest. At the intersection of County Road 550 and County Road 510, turn left. Drive 3.1 miles until you reach AAA road (not marked very well, so watch closely). Turn right onto AAA road. Drive 3.1 miles until you reach a large “Y” in the road. Stay left. Continue for about 6.5 – 7 miles until you see Eagle Rock to the right and pull in.
For other Actions and Updates go to;
"STAND FOR THE LAND" at www.standfortheland.net
"Headwaters News" at www.headwatersnews.net
"Save The Wild UP" at www.savethewildup.org
Click on image to see "Base of Eagle Rock" located on the Yellow Dog Plains, an area northwest of Marquette, in the UP of Michigan.
Say nah to the sulfide mining, eh!
PolyMet Legislative Hearings at the Capitol. Non-Ferrous / Sulfide Mining Legislative hearings are scheduled by the Minnesota Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee for March 8 and March 10th, 2010 in St. Paul
Non-Ferrous, or Metallic Sulfide, Mining Hearings are scheduled at the Minnesota State Capitol
March 8th and March 10th, 2010
Three Legislative hearings are scheduled by the Minnesota Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee. Two hearings are scheduled for March 8 and one on March 10th, 2010.
•At the March 8th, 12:30 p.m. hearing, the MDNR Lands and Minerals will address the history of mining in the state. Included will be a presentation on the existing regulations and environmental review process. PolyMet will give a presentation on their NorthMet Project.
•The March 8th, 6 p.m. hearing will be a the "Review of Draft EIS by DNR" and "Comments on the EIS" concerning PolyMet's NorthMet Project.
•The March 10th, 6 p.m. hearing will be on a Nonferrous metallic mineral mining financial assurance bill, S.F. 2349-Carlson.
Minnesota Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee Schedule
Monday, March 8, 2010 - 12:30 PM
Committee on Environment and Natural Resources
Chair: Sen. Satveer S. Chaudhary
12:30 p.m.
Room 107 Capitol
Agenda:
DNR History of Mining - Process/Regulation/Environmental Review
PolyMet Presentation on NorthMet Project
Monday, March 8, 2010 - 6:00 PM
Committee on Environment and Natural Resources
Chair: Sen. Satveer S. Chaudhary
6 p.m.
Room 15 Capitol
Agenda:
Review of Draft EIS by DNR
Comments on the EIS
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 - 6:00 PM
Committee on Environment and Natural Resources
Chair: Sen. Satveer S. Chaudhary
6 p.m.
Room 15 Capitol
Agenda:
S.F. 2349-Carlson: Nonferrous metallic mineral mining financial assurance.
See Visiting the State Capitol
