December 15, 2009
After addressing pollution concerns at the former Cliffs-Dow site, the Marquette City Commission took public comment on a proposed anti-ballot initiative resolution [read Marquette City Resolution Opposing Water Mining Ballot Initiative]. The “MiWater” ballot initiative would place greater restrictions on metallic sulfide and uranium mining activities in Michigan. Despite offering unanimous support for the resolution, commissioners presented a fairly diverse argument in their opposition to the MiWater ballot initiative. The majority of citizens providing public comment outlined various arguments in support of the ballot effort.
New commissioner David Saint-Onge questioned why the City was considering the resolution.
“As a new guy on the commission, I’m not so sure why this issue comes before us, to be honest with you, why we’re taking the amount of time that we’ve taken to address this issue – not that it’s not important,” said Saint-Onge. “I do believe that there are some portions of the resolution that’s being offered this evening that are unnecessarily inflammatory.” Read the rest of this entry »
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Eagle Mine, Kennecott-Rio Tinto, Law, uranium, water, Michigan, workers, economy, lake superior, water pollution | Tagged: Rio Tinto, Kennecott, water, pollution, yellow dog plains, Eagle Mine, water pollution, workers, uranium, cameco, humboldt, deq, politicians, economy | 
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Posted by LSMN
November 14, 2009
But mining company spent more than $700,000 on U.P. uranium exploration in 2009
By Eartha Jane Melzer, Michigan Messenger
Upper Peninsula lawmakers are railing against a ballot measure to create standards for uranium mining, claiming that no uranium ore has been discovered in Michigan. However, a Canadian uranium mining company says it’s found uranium in the U.P., scientists have warned that its uranium exploration could harm groundwater, and the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department is warning that residential wells in several counties already have elevated levels of the radioactive metal.
In a statement this week, Sen. Mike Prusi (D-Ishpeming), Sen. Jason Allen (R-Traverse City), Rep. Mike Lahti (D-Hancock), Rep. Steve Lindberg (D-Marquette) and Rep. Judy Nerat (D-Wallace) accused sponsors of a proposed 2010 ballot measure on mining of talking about uranium mining in order to scare people and destroy the mining industry.
“No ‘uranium mining’ activity has ever existed,” the lawmakers stated, “nor has any uranium ore been discovered, in our state.”
However, according to a July 2009 financial report from Bitterroot Resources Ltd., a 17-hole uranium exploration drilling program concluded last December “identified several areas which warrant additional exploration.” The company said it spent $717,403 on Michigan uranium exploration in the first nine months of 2009. Read the rest of this entry »
Leave a Comment » | Kennecott-Rio Tinto, Law, uranium, Michigan | Tagged: Rio Tinto, Kennecott, Law, Michigan, Aquila, uranium | Permalink
Posted by LSMN
November 10, 2009
Gail Griffith – Retired Professor of Chemistry, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, Michigan
In a recent letter to the Mining Journal titled “No U.P. Uranium”, there is a statement: “There is no uranium ore anywhere in the state of Michigan.” The important word here is “ore”, which is defined as a naturally occurring material that can be profitably mined. This does not mean that there is no uranium in the state of Michigan. It means that no one has yet found of a profitable ore body.
The evidence for the presence of uranium in the U.P. is strong. Read the rest of this entry »
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Posted by LSMN
October 19, 2009
Even the prospect of uranium mining, well known for its toxic and radioactive legacy in areas not far from Michigan, in Ontario and Nebraska, are welcomed with open arms by eager officials. Last year, the Gogebic County Commissioner expressed full support of uranium exploration and mining activities on public land.
A more informed understanding of uranium mining is taking place thirteen-hundred miles from Marquette County. In Colorado, elected officials in a number of cities and towns are passing resolutions against a proposed in situ uranium mine that many fear could contaminate their water supply.
Colorado is also looking to pass rules that would implement a law requiring in situ uranium mines to return groundwater at the site to pre-mine quality. To further protect public health and water, the law would require mining companies to cite at least five examples of similar uranium mines that did not harm groundwater.
Leave a Comment » | Law, uranium, water, water pollution | Tagged: Law, uranium, water, water pollution | Permalink
Posted by LSMN
October 17, 2009
Cameco, the mining giant exploring for uranium in the upper Great Lakes, continues leaking into Lake Ontario, while even a local news editor says the company better start cleaning up its act.
To make matters worse, the company continues to lay off its Ontario employees.
Cameco has been exploring the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for uranium deposits.
Further information on Cameco’s inglorious track record around the globe can be found elswhere at Lake Superior Mining News.
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Posted by LSMN
March 18, 2009
by Gabriel Caplett
Marquette, Michigan – Despite the global economic downturn, debt-burden and deferment of its keystone Eagle nickel project, Kennecott Minerals is pushing forward with new prospecting activities on public forest land in the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Joining the fray is a Canadian junior exploration company, Trans Superior Resources, which is quietly continuing the search for uranium and metallic minerals. Read the rest of this entry »
2 Comments | cameco, Kennecott-Rio Tinto, Michigan, public land, uranium | Tagged: cameco, Kennecott, Michigan, public land, Rio Tinto, uranium | Permalink
Posted by LSMN
October 28, 2008
by Gabriel Caplett
In September 2008, Ottawa National Forest Ontonagon District Supervisor, Susan Spear, issued a “Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact” for Trans Superior Resources’ metallic mineral exploration project within the national forest’s boundaries. The project directly borders the federally-protected boundaries of the Sturgeon River, which is considered a National Wild and Scenic River. Trans Superior is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bitterroot Resources, located in Vancouver, Canada. Read the rest of this entry »
1 Comment | cameco, Michigan, public land, uranium | Tagged: cameco, Kennecott, public land, uranium | Permalink
Posted by LSMN
June 25, 2008
by Gabriel Caplett
Globally, grassroots movements are underway demanding companies obtain “free, prior and informed consent” from local communities before state approval of exploration and mining permits. The concept has proven to be a major threat to transnational mining companies that rely on government handouts of public land and access to private and indigenous land in order to operate.
Rather than obtain community consent and eliminate mine pollution in sensitive areas, the mining industry has responded with the Global Mining Initiative, originally introduced by Rio Tinto. The GMI entails a massive global public relations effort to frame mining operations as synonymous with sustainable development.
John Bray, research head at Control Risks, the world’s largest corporate risk consultant, advises his clients that maintaining “dialogue” with the opposition ensures that ‘you win…If you meet a group that will not compromise, then you have a problem.’
In neighboring Ontario, indigenous First Nations and non-native private property owners are disregarding industry rhetoric while waging a successful battle to prevent uranium exploration and mining on indigenous, public and private land. Read the rest of this entry »
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Posted by LSMN
May 12, 2008
by Gabriel Caplett
Since opening its McArthur River uranium mine, in 1999, Cameco Corporation has become a global leader in uranium production and groundwater contamination. Over the past decade, Cameco has been criticized for mine collapses, extensive groundwater contamination, major uranium and cyanide spills, and transportation accidents – most recently in Nebraska, Wyoming and Saskatchewan….
“A lack of relevant knowledge about faults and fractures”
The Oglala Sioux Nation, along with the Western Nebraska Resources Coalition, Owe Aku/Bring Back the Way, the Clean Water Advocacy Project, Rock the Earth, and other petitioners are filing a legal claim against Crow Butte Resources (CBR), a subsidiary of Cameco. The petitioners maintain that CBR’s in-situ uranium operations, near the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, are contaminating the Brule, Arikaree and High Plains aquifers, a major source of freshwater stretching from Texas to South Dakota that supplies irrigatable water for growing vegetables, grains and raising livestock. The Crow Butte mine currently produces roughly 800,000 pounds of uranium “yellowcake”, yearly, which is used for power generation in Canada. Read the rest of this entry »
2 Comments | cameco, Canada, indigenous, uranium, water pollution | Tagged: cameco, first nation, native american, uranium, water pollution, workers | Permalink
Posted by LSMN
April 11, 2008
by Gabriel Caplett
Tailings coverup/Uranium spills/Controversial Utah exploration/Salmon-Trout erosion/Aboriginal artifacts/New China partnership….
Kennecott under investigation for tailings cover-up
Kennecott is currently under investigation for covering-up, since 1988, the potential for a major earthquake-caused tailings disaster at the company’s tailings impoundment, in Magna, Utah. The impoundment holds roughly 1 billion tons of fine mine wastes.
Utah’s Dam Safety Inspector is siding with the company, although legislators, officials and the public are calling for an independent investigation, saying the company’s current data cannot be trusted.
The cover-up implicates the Utah State Engineer’s office and Kennecott officials, from 1988 up to the present. Read the rest of this entry »
Leave a Comment » | cameco, China, Eagle Mine, economy, Health, indigenous, Kennecott-Rio Tinto, uranium, water pollution | Tagged: cameco, indigenous, Kennecott, mine safety, public health, Rio Tinto, uranium, water pollution | Permalink
Posted by LSMN
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