Friday, October 10, 2008

EPA to hold open house on the Kennecott mine proposal

The following is a press release from the EPA:

EPA holds open house on Kennecott Mine proposal

(Chicago, Ill. - Oct. 9, 2008) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will hold an open house on October 22 to answer questions about the federal role in regulating the proposed mine and the underground injection control permit application submitted by Kennecott Eagle Minerals Company. The open house will be held at the Holiday Inn, 1951 U.S. Highway 41, West Marquette, Mich. There will be three sessions from 9 to 11 a.m., 1 to 3 p.m., and 6 to 9 p.m.

Kennecott proposes to dispose of treated wastewater as part of a nickel and copper sulfide mining operation within the Yellow Dog Plains of northwestern Marquette County. EPA notified the company that any underground disposal system at the mining site must comply with the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act's federal Underground Injection Control program before construction and operation. The Safe Drinking Water Act is intended to protect underground sources of drinking water.

The UIC permitting process for the underground disposal system is EPA's only direct regulatory role in the Eagle mine project. EPA is conducting a technical evaluation of the permit application and supporting documents and expects to issue a draft decision before the end of the year. EPA will accept public comments and hold a public hearing when the draft decision is announced.

A copy of the permit application and more information about the Eagle mine project and the underground injection control program is available here

Other recent Kennecott news:

From Save the Wild UP: U.S. Fish and Wildlife requests EPA delay on Kennecott mine

From Save the Wild UP: Kennecott lacks state, Federal permits to proceed with mine plan

From the Michigan Land Use Institute: Mining Company Lobbied Hard in U.P., Lansing

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