We are just the messenger.

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The mining company is applying for a wastewater discharge permit which would allow them to release up to half a million gallons of treated wastewater per day into Namebinag Creek. Significantly, a Michigan endangered fish, the redside dace, inhabits the area just over one mile downstream.

Neither EGLE nor the mining company have sufficiently communicated what steps, if any, are being taken to ensure that the endangered redside dace and its habitat will be protected. 

Through the public comment process, let's demand that the precautionary principle be respected: before receiving a permit, the company should prove through research that their exact quality of wastewater will not adversely impact the redside dace.

Michigan’s environmental regulatory agency EGLE thinks this is a permit without public interest. Let’s show otherwise by setting a record for the most comments ever received on a NPDES (wastewater discharge) permit.

May 15th, 2026 at 8 a.m. EDT

For those wishing to take a deep dive:

• All permit documents
• Baseline Fisheries, Macroinvertebrate and Physical Habitat Studies for the Copperwood Project
• Status of the Redside Dace
• World Health Organization report on demineralized water

Please submit a public comment, either:

• by using this form
• by sending an email to PionkR@michigan.gov

Craft a comment including these bold-faced points (in your own words as much as possible):

— Request a PUBLIC HEARING.  

A hearing will give us the chance to deliver spoken comments via a virtual comment session, and it will require Michigan’s regulatory agency to provide education on the permit. They will only hold a hearing if they deem the permit to be of public interest, which is why your participation is crucial! 

— Ask them to EXTEND THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.  

This will allow us to continue submitting comments to show mass resistance and to have time to more carefully investigate this matter.

— Ask them to DENY THE PERMIT.  

The company has not shown that the wastewater being discharged will not significantly alter the chemical composition of the stream and make it uninhabitable for the redside dace.  

— Demand that the company PROVIDE RESEARCH showing that flooding a stream with their exact quality of wastewater does not impact the ecosystem’s ability to support the redside dace and all the other living things that depend on it.   

There are multiple areas of concern:

1. EGLE is not following the recommendations of their own biologist
2. The current permit would allow for a 3x increase in total dissolved solids in the stream water
3. Multiple water treatment chemical additives are "highly toxic to aquatic organisms" and the permit does not outline clear plans to filter them.
4. EGLE has identified the "corrosive properties" of deionized wastewater but has not clarified what steps the company will take to "minimize toxicity"
5. The habitat of an endangered fish is just not an appropriate venue for millions of gallons of wastewater.

1) Ask them to FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THEIR OWN BIOLOGIST.

EGLE has ignored the advice from their own biologist, who has recommended that the total permitted phosphorous release at the first discharge site be cut in half, and has also recommend that chloride and sulfate be measured and limited at the second discharge site (see "Biological Recommendations"). None of these recommendations have been included. So in your comment, request that, at a minimum, EGLE follow the advice of their own biologist with regards to phosphorous, sulfate, and chloride.

2) Ask them to REQUIRE THAT TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS (TDS) BE OF THE SAME VALUE AS THE STREAM'S NATURAL WATER.

 The permit allows for up to 830 milligrams of total dissolved solids per liter of the wastewater, which is 2-3 times higher than the current TDS levels of Namebinag Creek. Setting such a high TDS rate allows companies to mix in low-quality water after other filtration steps like reverse osmosis. At the Copperwood Mine site, the area’s briny groundwater would be a chronic problem, and the company could take advantage of this high TDS rate to discharge it into the stream. So ask EGLE to lower the TDS parameter to match that of the natural stream water.

3) Demand that the permit be denied UNTIL PLANS TO MITIGATE TOXIC ADDITIVES HAVE BEEN FINALIZED.

According to the file "NPDES Water Treatment Additives," four of the water treatment additives proposed for use are highly toxic to aquatic organisms and potentially dangerous to those working around them:

• n-dodecyl mercaptan
• methyl isobutyl carbinol
• sodium isobutyl xanthate
• sodium hydrosulfide

The Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for for these chemicals include warnings such as, "Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects," “HAZARDOUS WASTE. DO NOT ALLOW PRODUCT TO ENTER THE ENVIRONMENT," and “Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects." The company has not outlined their plans nor does the permit put limits in place with regards to mitigating these toxins, with the footnote to the table stating, "Water treatment plant still in design process. Water treatment additives are projected on feasibility-level design and will be finalized upon completion of water treatment plant design.” Demand that EGLE deny the permit until detoxification plans for these deadly chemicals have been finalized.
 

4) Ask them to CLARIFY HOW CORROSIVE DEIONIZED WATER WILL BE MITIGATED.

The EGLE file entitled NPDES Permit — Draft for Public Notes specifically states of Copperwood’s wastewater:  "The permeate from reverse osmosis is demineralized and can have corrosive properties due to the absence of ions.”

But what is the mining company's plan to manage the permeate? Let the stream do the work: "This water will have over one mile of stream valley and beaver ponds to obtain sediment, dissolved minerals, and dissolved oxygen, before entering the main branch of Namebinag Creek where the Redside Dace have been found." (p19-20)

Where is the evidence that flooding millions of gallons of demineralized water into a stream will not effect it similarly to how it harms the human body: by stripping  minerals from sediment and potentially absorbing dangerous ones into the water? 

5) Ask them to DENY THE PERMIT because the habitat of an endangered fish is just not an appropriate venue for millions of gallons of wastewater, PERIOD.

Regardless of the exact treatment steps or mineral content, Copperwood's wastewater would be of a very different quality than the natural stream to which the redside dace is accustomed. Millions of gallons of wastewater will have a diluting effect on the ecosystem, which may impact the redside dace immediately or gradually through a trophic cascade or butterfly effect— small changes at microscopic levels leading over time to large disruptions higher up the food chain.

In the end, the habitat of an endangered species is simply not the appropriate location for discharging wastewater, regardless of its exact properties.

When possible, write your own message, even if it is simple. Include thesefour points:
 

1. Request a PUBLIC HEARING.
2. Ask them to EXTEND THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
3. Ask them to DENY THE PERMIT.
4. Demand that the company CONDUCT A STUDY showing that flooding a stream with their exact quality of wastewater does not impact the ecosystem’s long-term vitality

*** Conveying this information in your own words will be far more impactful than a thousand people copy-pasting the following message, which is provided only as an example: 

____________________________________

“I’m writing today to urge you to deny the NPDES permit to the proposed Copperwood Mine. I’m also requesting an extension of the public comment period and the scheduling of a public hearing.

EGLE has ignored the advice from their own biologist, who has recommended that the total permitted phosphorous release at the first discharge site be cut in half, and has also recommend that chloride and sulfate be measured and limited at the second discharge site. None of these recommendations have been included. At a minimum, EGLE must follow the advice of their own biologist with regards to phosphorous, sulfate, and chloride.

The NPDES permit limits "total dissolved solids" in discharge up to 830 mg/l which is approximately 2-3 times existing levels in Namebinag, Creek. At the Copperwood Mine site, the area’s briny groundwater would be a chronic problem, and the company could take advantage of this high TDS rate to discharge it into the stream. Please set a TDS value which is consistent with the stream's natural levels.

If the applicant seeks to minimize TDS through reverse osmosis, it could create deionized water with corrosive properties, as confirmed by EGLE's own documents. EGLE and the company must clarify how the corrosive effects of demineralized water will be mitigated.

Multiple water treatment additives proposed for use (n-dodecyl mercaptan, methyl isobutyl carbinol, sodium isobutyl xanthate, and sodium hydrosulfide) are highly toxic to aquatic organisms and potentially dangerous to those working around them.  They could have serious environmental impacts if not fully removed from the discharge, but plans to mitigate these toxins have not been released, with the footnote to the table stating, "Water treatment plant still in design process. Water treatment additives are projected on feasibility-level design and will be finalized upon completion of water treatment plant design.”   It would be irresponsible to approve the permit until detoxification plans for these deadly chemicals have been finalized.

Neither EGLE nor the mining company have adequately communicated to the public what steps, if any, are being taken to protect the redside dace and its habitat. In keeping with the precautionary principle, the company should be required to cite research proving that releasing this quantity of wastewater will not harm the endangered species. If no such research exists, they should be required to conduct it themselves before reapplying for the permit. 

In the end, regardless of the exact properties of the wastewater and filtration techniques employed, it is guaranteed have a diluting, disruptive effect on the habitat of the state endangered redside dace, which is why I'm urging you to deny the applicant's permit request. 

Thank you for your consideration.”

Please share this action with others. Remember, we want to shatter the public comment record. Deadline: May 15th at 8 a.m.

On September 16th, 2025, the Export-Import Bank of the United States announced a Letter of Interest (LOI) to provide $250 million in debt financing for the advancement of the proposed Copperwood Mine. The EXIM Bank is the official export credit agency of the United States. 

The LOI is non-binding, meaning there is no commitment to follow through with the funding, but the final decision may ultimately be determined by what we do next.

$250 million would constitute a massive bailout for a failing junior company with only $25 million in the bank; it would provide a significant portion of the $450 million the project needs to get up and running; and it would catalyze an avalanche of fresh private investment. 

So it's time to mobilize!

Communicate to the EXIM Bank's chief decision-makers that the proposed Copperwood Mine is an extremely risky and dubious investment due to the tremendous opposition from around the state and nation and the company's failure to raise funds over a fifteen year period.

Tell them that financing a foreign-owner operation to create a small handful of boom-and-bust jobs and ship the copper out of country with no promise of return is entirely antithetical to their mission: "to support American job creation... by unlocking financing solutions for U.S. companies competing around the globe."

Ask them to rescind their Letter of Interest (LOI).

Below you will find all the instructions you need to participate in this action, including:

• Contact information for the top decision-makers
• Possible arguments
• A sample message

The more of us they hear from, the more seriously they will take us!

The following list includes the top decision-makers at the EXIM Bank. Please copy / paste the full list into the To: field of an email message.

mariel.huasanga@exim.gov,
info@exim.gov,
james.burrows@exim.gov,

Such as:

• "Major concerns regarding LOI to Highland Copper"
• "Deny debt financing to Highland Copper"
• "Copperwood: A Risky Investment"
• etc.

Your message may be as short as a single sentence: "I urge you to deny the $250 million in debt financing to Highland Copper," but it will become more persuasive through the inclusion of a few of the following arguments to emphasize the RISK of the project, the IMMENSE SCOPE OF THE OPPOSITION, and its INCOMPATIBILITY WITH EXIM'S MISSION.

NOTE: There is no need to include all of these points in your message. Please include those upon which you feel most comfortable discussing.

1) Antithetical to EXIM's Mission

The EXIM Bank state that its mission is "to support American job creation... by unlocking financing solutions for U.S. companies competing around the globe." But Highland Copper is not a U.S. company — they are an inexperienced Canadian company seeking to develop a highly opposed copper sulfide mine immediately adjacent to Michigan's most beloved State Park, with 40+ million tons of toxic mine waste to be stored in unprecedented proximity to Lake Superior. Furthermore, a wealth of research shows that mines are more likely to harm the economy in the mid- and long-term (1,2). To quote Harvard Economist James Stock, former presidential advisor: "In 89% of cases copper mining ends up being a negative for jobs and incomes."  The jobs at Copperwood would last for a maximum of 10.7 years, though many would be six-month contracts, with highest paid positions going to specialized non-residents. Over the mid- to long-term, this mine will leave the area poorer than it started.

2) The scope of opposition to this project is enormous. 

469,000 people — largely from the state of Michigan — have signed a petition opposing its development, and over 100 organizations signed a letter opposing state funding for the project, including the Michigan League of Women Voters, the Michigan Environmental Council, the Michigan Sierra Club, and the Michigan League of Conservation Voters, as well as five Tribal Nations.

3) Funding denied by Michigan legislature

The state of Michigan has THREE TIMES denied the use of $50 million to help the project advance — twice in 2024 (1,2) and again in 2025 — due to outreach from tens of thousands of constituents.

4) A risky investment

A report the Keweenaw Land Association — the company leasing the Copperwood mineral rights — states (page 13): "There are a number of factors weighing against near-term development of the Copperwood Project and as a result, the Copperwood Project could face significant delays and ultimately prove to be unprofitable or fail to yield the expected cash revenues."

Separately, an independent auditor's report states that there is significant doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern; that the project is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties; and that an investment in Highland involves significant risks and should be considered speculative.

5) No supply chain vulnerability for mined copper

Although refined copper has been named as a "critical mineral" by the U.S. Geological Survey, mined copper is still listed at a negative risk (page 37): thus, no undersupply of raw copper; thus, no need to accelerate the development of new mines, especially those opposed by multiple Tribal Nations, 100+ organizations, and hundreds of thousands from around the state and nation.

6) The copper in question would be shipped out of country — to Canada, Europe, or Asia (p 19-3) — where it would enter the international market with no  contracts in place ensuring the return of the copper to the United States.

*** You may supplement your message with more material from our home page.

A single sentence is better than none: "I urge you to deny the $250 million in debt financing for Highland Copper's Copperwood Mine."

But if you're able, please consider a more detailed message so that our arguments are known. You may adapt the message below to your liking, or even copy/paste as is:
__________________

"To the Export Import Bank of the United States:

I urge you to deny the $250 million in debt financing for Highland Copper's Copperwood Mine.

This highly controversial mine is opposed by hundreds of thousands from around the state of Michigan and beyond due to its extreme proximity to Porcupine Mountains State Park — ranked as the most beautiful in the entire country — and Lake Superior, this continent's largest, cleanest source of surface freshwater.

Supporting this risky project is not consistent with the EXIM Bank's mission of assisting American companies and creating sustainable jobs. Highland Copper is an inexperienced Canadian company, and the small handful of 10.7-year boom-and-bust jobs will not meaningfully benefit the economy, but may actually harm it, as suggested by a wealth of research (1,2).

Furthermore, although copper is classified as a critical mineral, raw mined copper is still listed at a negative risk by the U.S. Geological Survey, meaning no supply vulnerability and thus no need to accelerate the development of a widely-opposed project at an abominable location in the hands of an inexperienced foreign company.

Please stand with the people of Michigan and the United States and rescind the Letter of Interest as soon as possible.

Thank you for your consideration."

Please share this action with others. Thank you!

On April 2nd, the White House officially named Highland Copper in a government press release.

This combined with other factors — copper price at an all time high, the White House establishing Project Vault, and more — suggests that a massive federal bailout for a failing, hotly opposed project could be just around the corner.

Reach out to national lawmakers and urge them to do everything in their power to ensure not a single copper penny goes to this dangerous project. The lawmakers listed below have been on critical mineral committees or in contact with the mining company CEO. 

Some are up for re-election — let them know their jobs are on the line.

We also encourage you, no matter your residence, to contact any other national legislators.

• Conduct some research on the Home Page
• Make a call / send an email to the contacts below
• Share this action with others

The more of us they hear from, the more seriously they will take our message.

• Sen. Elissa Slotkin (MI) contact form 202-224-4822
• Rep. Jack Bergman (MI) — up for re-election Bergman.constituent@mail.house.gov 202-225-4735 / 231-944-7633 (Traverse City district office) / 906-273-2227 (Gwinn district office)
• Rep. John Moolenaar (MI) — up for re-election contact form 202-225-3561 989-802-6040 (district office)
• Rep. Haley Stevens (MI) — re-election / running for U.S. senate 734-853-3040 / 202-225-8171
• Rep. Tom Tiffany (WI) — running for WI governor contact form 202-225-3365 / 715-298-9344
• Rep. Pete Stauber (MN) — up for re-election contact form 202-225-6211 218-481-6396

Hello,

I'm calling / writing to urge you to do everything in your power to ensure that no American taxpayer dollars go to the proposed Copperwood Mine. This dangerous project was recently named in U.S. Government fact sheet from April 2nd as an example of a company expanding domestic copper mining, but the release failed to mention:

• Highland Copper is a Canadian company
• They are not a mining company, having never owned or operated a mine
• They're seeking to build their first ever mine right next to Porcupine Mountains State Park, one of the most beloved outdoor recreation destinations in the nation
• Over 40 million tons of toxic mine waste, containing arsenic, mercury, cadmium and lead, would be stored in unprecedented proximity to Lake Superior, this continent's largest, cleanest source of surface freshwater
• The copper in question would be shipped to Canada for processing, with no promise of return

Again, I urge you to deny any potential federal funding, as well as to educate your colleagues on the risks of this project, which is so hotly opposed that its funding has been three times denied by the State of Michigan. 

Please share this action with others. Thank you!

Despite having been blocked three times due to massive pushback from around the state and nation, sources in Lansing tell us that Governor Gretchen Whitmer is once again seeking the approval of $50 million to fund the "preliminary infrastructure" needed for the proposed Copperwood Mine: power grid, cell towers, and heavy industrial roads, not only enabling a foreign-owned mine but also opening the floodgates to ongoing development in the form of data centers and more, all in the buffer zone of Michigan's most beloved old growth wilderness area.

The February 11th Supplemental Request document very explicitly includes an avenue for Copperwood to seek this funding: $50 million dollars from the Michigan Strategic Fund for "strategic site readiness" – details which are identical to the previous iterations of the proposed grant (see page 21).

Although we don't have official confirmation that the Copperwood funding is on the table, we can't wait for whispers to make the headlines before taking action. 

Our goal is to influence the conversation in Lansing as early as possible, so that as applications are received for this state funding, lawmakers will know exactly where we stand. 

For now we are focusing our outreach efforts on the seven lawmakers comprising the Senate Appropriations Labor and Economic Opportunity subcommittee. Most of these senators have stood with us in the past, and in an election year when their jobs are on the line, all they need is a push in the right direction.

Everyone is welcome to participate, no matter your place of residence. 

Non-residents: you may wish to emphasize that your tourist dollars and Michigan's reputation are on the line.

Simply contact the following lawmakers via phone and/or email and urge them to "deny all applications for strategic site readiness funding for infrastructure which will enable the Copperwood Mine."

***Please note: most of these senators have stood with us in the past, so it's in our best interest to maintain a positive relationship. Please be civil and professional in your messages, but firm: be clear this is not a matter you take lightly.

• Sen. Mary Cavanagh
  • SenMCavanagh@senate.michigan.gov 
  • 517-373-7748
• Sen. Sean McCann
  • SenSMcCann@senate.michigan.gov 
  • 517-373-5100
• Sen. Mallory McMorrow 
  • SenMMcMorrow@senate.michigan.gov 
  • 517-373-2523
• Sen. Darrin Camilleri 
  • SenDCamilleri@senate.michigan.gov 
  • 517-373-7918
• Sen. John Cherry 
  • SenJCherry@senate.michigan.gov 
  • 517-373-0142
• Sen. Mark Huizenga 
  • SenMHuizenga@senate.michigan.gov 
  • 517-373-0797
• Sen. Jon Bumstead 
  • SenJBumstead@senate.michigan.gov 
  • 517-373-1635

All email addresses for your copy/pasting convenience:

SenMCavanagh@senate.michigan.gov, SenSMcCann@senate.michigan.gov, SenMMcMorrow@senate.michigan.gov, SenDCamilleri@senate.michigan.gov, SenJCherry@senate.michigan.gov, SenMHuizenga@senate.michigan.gov, SenJBumstead@senate.michigan.gov

Here is a sample message which you may adapt to your liking:

"Hello,

My name is ____________ and I'm a resident of ___________. Since the senator is a member of the LEO subcommittee, I'm writing/calling today to urge them to deny any applications for 2027 strategic site readiness funding which will advance infrastructure to enable the proposed Copperwood Mine.

Rolling out the power grid, cell towers, and industrial roads in the buffer zone of a sensitive ecological and cherished outdoor recreation area is not in the best interests of Michigan and is not an appropriate use of taxpayer dollars. Far from the assertion that this infrastructure would serve the community, its exclusive purpose is to advance the proposed Copperwood Mine, an inexperienced Canadian company's plan to mine next to and underneath Porcupine Mountains State Park, ship the copper to Canada, and leave all 40+ million tons of metallic sulfide waste next to Lake Superior. In addition to compromising a beloved area, the mine would drag the Western Upper Peninsula back to the frontlines of boom-and-bust extraction, rather than encourage the positive trend of developing a homegrown economy.

This same funding has three times been denied by lawmakers due to pushback from around the state and nation, and to approve it now would be to steamroll over the will of the people.

Please join us in fighting for a truly Pure Michigan.

Thank you for your consideration."

*** For more inspiration, you'll find ample material on the home page.

Please share this action with others. Thank you!

Despite the Copperwood Project lacking $400+ million, despite lacking crucial preliminary infrastructure such as the power grid, cell towers, and industrial roads, and despite lacking the support of We the People, Michigan's environmental regulatory agency EGLE continues to issue permits enabling the clearcutting of forest, the destruction of wetlands, and the rerouting of streams.

Permitting destruction is the same as committing it. So it's time to speak up! It's time to hold the permitters accountable!

The Copperwood Permit must regularly apply for new permits and to renew existing ones. One major permit — the NPDES permit for wastewater discharge — is currently under consideration, and a public comment period will eventually be opened. Interestingly, this application has suffered a six-month delay in approval, potentially suggesting that EGLE may be beginning to feel the will of the people, so the time to strike is now!

Our goal is to pre-empt the upcoming public comment period by setting a firm tone. We need thousands from around Michigan to demand that EGLE cease to issue ALL permits for this dangerous and widely opposed project.

In many of our actions we encourage participation from folks from outside of Michigan. In this case, however, we believe EGLE will be most receptive to Michiganders. Please only participate if you are a Michigan resident / property owner.

1. Write an email to this address:  EGLE-Assist@Michigan.gov
2. And / or make a phone call: 800-662-9278 (Monday through Friday, 8am-4:30pm EST
3. Speak your mind or use the sample message below. Be sure to include a phrase to this effect: "Please halt the issuing of all major and minor permits for the proposed Copperwood Mine."
4. Share this action with others!

Here is a sample message which you may adapt to your liking:

"Hello,

My name is _________ and I'm a resident of ________. I kindly request that your agency cease to issue all major and minor permits for the proposed Copperwood Mine. The development of this dangerous project is not in the best interests of Michigan, and it does not have the support of the people. By permitting Copperwood's advancement, you are complicit in destroying and compromising a beloved area at the juncture of the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness, Lake Superior, and the North Country Trail. 

Once again, I urge your agency to stand with the people of this great state by halting the project.

Please make note of this message for the consideration of the agency's directors.

Thank you."

*** To elaborate on your reasons for opposing Copperwood, you'll find ample material on the home page.

Please share this action with others. Thank you!