I am writing today to announce the closure of the Michigan Messenger. After four years of operation in Michigan, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news into a single site, The American Independent at Americanindependent.com. This is part of a shift in strategy, towards new forms [...]
An abstinence-only presentation provided to numerous school districts in Calhoun and Eaton Counties in October of this year provided false and misleading information to students about HIV, experts allege.
Two county registers of deeds filed a class action lawsuit Monday on behalf of Michigan’s 83 counties alleging that the Mortgage Electronic Registration Services owes millions of dollars in property title transfer taxes.
Despite evidence of the impact of mercury on children and public health, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette last month joined with 24 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to scuttle new EPA regulations that would reduce mercury emissions from power plants.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has approved the lease of 120 acres of state land to be used by the Kennecott Minerals Co. for a nickel-mining operation northwest of Marquette in the Upper Peninsula.
“Time and history will judge us,” DNR Director Rebecca Humphries said as she announced her decision on the matter at the Natural Resources Commission meeting on Feb. 7.
Kennecott’s “Eagle” mine would target nickel located under the Yellow Dog Plain, a pristine wilderness area treasured by fishers and hikers, and has sparked intense opposition from locals who worry that it will cause irreparable environmental damage.
Kennecott released a statement celebrating the DNR approval. “Achieving the necessary state approvals has been the focus of our activities over the last four years,” said Jon Cherry, manager of Kennecott’s UP mining project, “and obtaining them literally moves the project ‘off of paper and onto the ground.’ ”
The mining company also mentioned that ongoing exploration in the area could extend the mining activities by many years.
There were conditions to the exclusive 40-year DNR land lease — the agency specified that disputes over permits issued by the state Department of Environmental Quality must be resolved before the land lease can to go into effect.
DEQ spokesman Bob McCann said he believes preliminary activities on the appeal of the DEQ permits will begin in March.
The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) called the DNR lease “corporate welfare.”
“This lease will leave the DNR and Michigan taxpayers vulnerable to bearing clean-up costs from pollution,” NWF attorney Michelle Halley said, “and it would put the DNR in the inappropriate role of facilitating a mining district in the U.P.”
Halley said that her group will consider legal challenges to the DNR lease.
On Valentine’s Day, mine opponents with the group Save the Wild UP held a vigil to protest the DNR decision.
They also plan to block moves to develop infrastructure that would support the mine, including a proposed electricity service expansion in the area where the mine is planned.
“We are asking all Alger-Delta customers to either attend [Monday's] meeting
Do you know where to vote on Election Day? Do you know what to bring with you? Get comprehensive voter information for your state here.
Sign up for our email newsletter