Although the mine site may be on private property, light, noise, air, and water pollution, subterranean blasting, rock-grinding, and nonstop industrial traffic would reduce the vitality of all surrounding areas. The National Wildlife Federation lists such habitat fragmentation as a "primary threat to the survival of wildlife in the United States."
Of course not! All of these influences will radiate for miles into the distance, degrading the experience of human visitors in a world-renowned outdoor recreation zone.
To the east: PORCUPINE MOUNTAINS STATE PARK — largest mixed coniferous-deciduous old growth forest in the Midwest, largest Wilderness Area in mainland Michigan, most beautiful State Park in the country
To the south: the NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL — longest of all national hiking trails, stretching 4800 miles from North Dakota to Vermont, passing here through Ottawa National Forest, a cornerstone of North Woods natural heritage
To the west: BLACK RIVER HARBOR — National Forest Scenic Byway, site of majestic waterfalls and groves of old growth sugar maple, yellow birch, eastern hemlock
To the north: LAKE SUPERIOR — largest, cleanest, and wildest of all Great Lakes; a full ten percent of Earth's surface freshwater; sacred lake of the Anishinaabe People
Why allow the smaller boom-and-bust industry to endanger the larger, which is strong, sustained, and does not endanger Water and Life?
Historic U. P. copper mines were over 90% pure "native copper," but Copperwood's ore grade is a mere 1.45%, meaning that for every ton of extract, only 30 pounds would be copper and 1,970 pounds would be waste, containing at least 15 toxins of environmental health concern, including arsenic, cadmium, selenium, lead, and mercury, stored directly upstream from the world's largest and cleanest source of surface freshwater.
Because the highest grade ore (around 2%) is closest to the Lake, they would be permitted to mine up to 100 feet from the shore. But the company's Feasibility Report states that, if permits can be acquired, they may seek to mine directly underneath Lake Superior (page16-13).
A report from the Association of State Dam Safety Officials states that Michigan's Dam Safety Program is "extremely understaffed to perform the mission of dam safety as required by rules, legislation, and best practice" (page 6).
Since the mine is projected to run only 10.7 years, the company has designed all infrastructure — including the waste dam — to anticipate 1-in-100 year storm events, despite the fact that there have been two 1-in-1000 year storm events in the immediate area in just the last decade (1,2), Clearly, "thousand year storms" need to be renamed, and assuming that another will not happen during the mine life is the definition of a gamble, in unprecedented proximity to Lake Superior.
Despite the company's claims to the contrary, these DNR meeting notes from January 2024 confirm that they would seek to mine directly underneath State Park property, starting with "Section 5" (pictured left). If this precedent is set, "permit creep" could lead to the company mining deeper within Park boundaries.
According to the company's 2023 Feasibility Report (page 19-3), they plan to ship Michigan's copper to Canada, Europe, or Asia for processing. From there it would enter the international market with no promise of return to Michigan or even the USA.
We are being asked to sacrifice the health of old growth forest, the integrity of freshwater, and the right of humans to enjoy a moment of peace and quiet in Nature, all for the sake of copper, which was denied an upgrade of status to "critical mineral" and is infinitely recycled, to be shipped out of country.
Copper's price fluctuates around four dollars a pound... but what is the price of a clean freshwater sea? of a peaceful hike in the woods? of a pure night sky? of a healthy old growth forest in an age when 99% as been cut?
The research of Harvard Economist James Stock, former advisor to President Obama, concludes that, due to disruptions to amenity and outdoor recreation industries, any employment and income benefits of copper mining are short-lived compared to long-term economic decline.
Just think about it: if mining was so good for the economy, then the Upper Peninsula should be the richest place in the country. Instead, it's one of the most impoverished, because the bust is always bigger and longer than the boom.
The most comprehensive study ever conducted shows that mines led to positive long-term outcomes in just 29% of cases, and most of those came from before 1982.
"To the extent to which past experience is to be our guide, there is surprisingly little evidence that mining will bring about economic good times, while there is a good deal of evidence for expecting just the opposite."
Historic copper mines of the early 20th century employed tens of thousands. By the 1990s, the White Pine Mine was employing around 3,000 people. But now in the 21st century — largely due to increased mechanization and automation — Eagle Mine in Marquette County employs only around 100 individuals.
Six years ago, Highland Copper predicted 250 direct mining jobs at Copperwood. Then last year (conveniently just before requesting $50 million from the State of Michigan...) they began projecting 380 jobs, with no explanation as to how they reached a higher number. If they were wrong before, why trust them now?
The text of the proposed Michigan grant to the mining company— which has been rejected twice by the State Senate — defines a new job as only needing to last for six months and explicitly states that a large portion of positions would go to specialized non-residents.
The text also states that the company hopes to synchronize with the closure of Eagle Mine in Marquette County in order to "retain the talent pool." Is lateral job transfer from another county the same as job creation?
Boom-and-bust economics is not unlike the fleeting kick of a drug high followed by a long-lasting crash. Unfortunately, this is more than an analogy: mining workers show the highest rates of alcoholism and opiate overdose of any industry, a tragedy which continues long after the mine boards up shop.
The 2013 study, "The Economic Impacts of Renewed Copper Mining
in the Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan," shows that, despite the loss of thousands of mining jobs, the Western U.P.'s per capita income is growing faster than the rest of Michigan's due to the increase of home-grown jobs which don't export our wealth out of state. Returning to the frontlines of extraction would constitute a significant step backwards for an economy which is finally coming of age.
Forward, not back!
This is a virgin area with no cell service, no power grid, and no roads capable of sustaining heavy traffic. Once this "preliminary infrastructure" is installed, it will not evaporate when the mine boards up shop in 10.7 years, but instead will lay the foundation for ongoing development for decades and centuries to come, forever altering the character of this cherished area.
The juncture of mainland Michigan's largest old growth forest with the longest national hiking trail and the cleanest freshwater sea is not an appropriate place for any large industrial operation whatsoever: not a Walmart, not a gas station, and certainly not a metallic sulfide mine.
Because human lives are short compared to the life of an ecosystem, we do not accurately perceive ecological degradation that occurs over the course of generations. This is a phenomenon ecologists call Shifting Baseline Syndrome, and there is nowhere that is immune. Rolling out the power grid in this cherished area would constitute a significant shifting of the baseline, with repercussions for all of great-grandkids who would love to experience this majestic place as we ourselves have known it.
ProtectThePorkies is run entirely by volunteers dedicating considerable time and energy to this important cause. As a small team, we strive to make efficient and constructive use of funding. Your contributions assist greatly with our mission.
You may also mail checks to this address:
PO Box 6
Wakefield, MI
49968
