Take action against Copperwood Mine

Overview

The Copperwood Mine — a Canadian company's proposal to mine next to and underneath Porcupine Mountains State Park, ship the copper to Canada, and leave behind over 30 million tons of mine waste in unprecedented proximity to Lake Superior — is currently seeking a Michigan grant of $50 million taxpayer dollars in order to fund the preliminary infrastructure (power grid, cell towers, and road upgrades) necessary to advance the project to construction.

Rolling out this infrastructure into a remote, uninhabited area will not benefit the community, least of all in the buffer zone of mainland Michigan's largest old growth wilderness area, a place people come specifically in search of peace and quiet.

Even more concerning than the $50 million itself is the certainty that the mining company would cite it as an "official Michigan endorsement," thus triggering an avalanche of fresh private investment and potentially the capital to at last begin construction after twenty years of stagnant fundraising.

NOTE: There are currently TWO grants being proposed: both for the same total and for the same purpose. The first (proposed by MEDC and approved by the Michigan Strategic Fund) lists the recipient as the mining company, whereas the second (introduced by Rep. Markkanen as a Legislatively Directed Spending Request) seeks to obfuscate connection to the controversial mine by listing the recipient as Wakefield Township. Approval of either grant would have identical consequences, so they both must be defeated.

Top Decision-Makers

Matt Hall — House Speaker

(517) 373-1784 MattHall@house.mi.gov

Sarah Anthony — Senate Appropriations Chair

517-373-6960 SenSAnthony@senate.michigan.gov

Ann Bollin -- House Appropriations Chair

(517) 373-7515 AnnBollin@house.mi.gov

Nancy Jenkins Arno — Labor and Economic Opportunity Subcommittee Chair

(517) 373-8808 NancyJenkinsArno@house.mi.gov

John Bumstead — Senate Appropriations Majority Vice Chair

517-373-1635 SenJBumstead@senate.michigan.gov

Sean McCann — Senate Appropriations Minority Chair

517-373-5100 SenSMcCann@senate.michigan.gov

Matt Maddock — House Appropriations Majority Vice Chair

(517) 373-1780 MattMaddock@house.mi.gov

Alabas Farhat — House Appropriations Minority Chair

(517) 373-0144 AlabasFarhat@house.mi.gov,

STEP ONE: Complete the Fast Action Form (takes just two minutes!)

It will take you just two minutes to complete this Fast Action Form, which will be sent to all of the relevant lawmakers on the Michigan House and Senate Appropriations Committees.

Out-of-state residents encouraged to participate! The Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee cited pushback from "around the state and nation" as the reason for blocking the grant twice in 2024, so no matter where you're from, please fill out the form!

Filled it out already? Do so again! We need sustained participation to communicate to lawmakers the ongoing importance of this issue.

NOTE: Fast action forms are great for mass participation, but an individualized personal message has greater impact — please proceed to the following steps!

fast action form

STEP TWO: Make a phone call / send a personal email

Out-of-state residents encouraged!

Below you will find the contact information for ALL the relevant lawmakers.

Michigan residents: before completing this step, please send a message through your state senator and representative's website contact forms (as described in STEP THREE).

You are welcome to use this sample letter, either as already written or for inspiration.

E-mail Addresses

Copy and paste the full list! Depending on your email service, you may need to divide the list into two or three messages.

A few words is all it takes:

"My name is _______ and I reside at ________. I urge you to deny both the $50 million earmark request to Wakefield Township and the $50 million SOAR grant to Highland Copper, both of which would chiefly serve to enable the proposed Copperwood Mine. Thank you."

MattHall@house.mi.gov,

AnnBollin@house.mi.gov,

MattMaddock@house.mi.gov,

AlabasFarhat@house.mi.gov,

RepPhilGreen@house.mi.gov,

NancyJenkinsArno@house.mi.gov,

TimKelly@house.mi.gov,

GregMarkkanen@house.mi.gov,

MikeMueller@house.mi.gov,

BradleySlagh@house.mi.gov,

GregVanWoerkom@house.mi.gov,

TimothyBeson@house.mi.gov,

KenBorton@house.mi.gov,

JohnRoth@house.mi.gov,

CamCavitt@house.mi.gov,

JamesDeSana@house.mi.gov,

TomKuhn@house.mi.gov,

DonniSteele@house.mi.gov,

RonRobinson@house.mi.gov,

AmosONeal@house.mi.gov,

JulieRogers@house.mi.gov,

SamanthaSteckloff@house.mi.gov,

caglanville@house.mi.gov,

KimberlyEdwards@house.mi.gov,

JasperMartus@house.mi.gov,

DonavanMcKinney@house.mi.gov,

JasonMorgan@house.mi.gov,

NataliePrice@house.mi.gov,

WillSnyder@house.mi.gov,

MattLongjohn@house.mi.gov

SenSAnthony@senate.michigan.gov

SenSMcCann@senate.michigan.gov

SenJCherry@senate.michigan.gov

SenRBayer@senate.michigan.gov

SenSSantana@senate.michigan.gov

SenJIrwin@senate.michigan.gov

SenKHertel@senate.michigan.gov

SenDCamilleri@senate.michigan.gov

SenVKlinefelt@senate.michigan.gov

SenMMcMorrow@senate.michigan.gov

SenMCavanagh@senate.michigan.gov

SenJBumstead@senate.michigan.gov

SenTAlbert@senate.michigan.gov

SenJDamoose@senate.michigan.gov

SenMHuizenga@senate.michigan.gov

SenROutman@senate.michigan.gov

SenLTheis@senate.michigan.gov

Phone Numbers

A fast message is all it takes!

"My name is _______ and I reside at ________. I urge you to reject the grants to Wakefield Township and Highland Copper to advance the Copperwood Mine. Thank you."

TOP TARGETS

Matt Hall (517) 373-1784

Ann Bollin (517) 373-7515

Nancy Jenkins Arno (517) 373-8808

Sarah Anthony 517-373-6960

Sean McCann 517-373-5100

Matt Maddock (517) 373-1780

John Bumstead 517-373-1635

Alabas Farhat (517) 373-0144

SECONDARY TARGETS (also important!)

House Appropations Committee

Phil Green (517) 373-0587

Tim Kelly (517) 373-1778

Greg Markkanen (517) 373-0850

Mike Mueller (517) 373-0840

Bradley Slagh (517) 373-0841

Greg Van Woerkom (517) 373-1830

Timothy Beson (517) 373-0158

Ken Borton 517-373-0829

John Roth (517) 373-1766

Cam Cavitt (517) 373-0833

James De Sana (517) 373-0475

Tom Kuhn (517) 373-1706

Donni Steel (517) 373-1771

Ron Robinson (517) 373-1794

Amos O'Neal (517) 373-0837

Julie Rogers (517) 373-1783

Samantha Steckloff (517) 373-3920

Carol Glanville (517) 373-0476

Kimberly Edwards (517) 373-0852

Jasper Martus (517) 373-1786

Donavan McKinney (517) 373-0849

Jason Morgan (517) 373-0855

Natalie Price (517) 373-0823

Will Snyder (517) 373-0842

Matt Longjohn (517) 373-8670

Senate Appropriations Committee

John Cherry 517-373-0142

Rosemary Bayer 517-373-2417

Sylvia Santana 517-373-0990

Jeff Irwin 517-373-2406

Kevin Hertel 517-373-7315

Darin Camilleri 517-373-7918

Veronica Klinefelt 517-373-7670

Mallory McMorrow 517-373-2523

Mary Cavanagh 517-373-7748

Thomas Albert 517-373-1734

John Damoose 517-373-2413

Mark Huizenga 517-373-0797

Rick Outman 517-373-3760

Lana Theis 517-373-2420

STEP THREE: Direct outreach to lawmakers (Michigan residents)

Michigan residents: please reach out directly to your state senator and state representative by filling out the contact form on their official websites.

*** Messages received via "constituency services" are granted a higher priority than messages received via other means. ***

You are welcome to use this sample letter, either as already written or for inspiration.

Even if your senator or representative is not on an Appropriations Committee, all of these politicians are in constant communication with their colleagues. Our goal is to maintain a strong presence in the conversation!

STEP FOUR: Reach out to your national Congress members

ALERT! The mining company has begun lobbying the national Congress!

On June 23rd, the mining company posted the photo (right) showing CEO Barry O'Shea rubbing shoulders with national representatives and senators from Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. They are doing this to: 1) seek top-down pressure on state legislators to approve the proposed grants; 2) seek federal funding; 3) both.

Please reach out to your national-level senator and representative TODAY to urge them to deny all support to the proposed Copperwood Mine. You may adapt this sample letter to your liking.

FIND YOUR NATIONAL SENATOR / REPRESENTATIVE.

Also send your letter to the lawmakers from the photo:

Bergman.constituent@mail.house.gov, johnmoolenaar@mail.house.gov, senator_slotkin@slotkin.senate.gov

Put Pressure at the Top!

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel

The Governor has the power to intervene with Michigan's environmental regulators and halt permitting to the proposed Copperwood Mine. Contact the Governor today and demand a formal state review of the Copperwood Mine. Find talking points here.

Contact the Governor

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel

The Attorney General also has the power to influence Michigan's environmental permitting regulators. Contact the A.G. today and demand a formal state review of the Copperwood Mine. Find talking points here.

Contact the A.G.

Michigan's Environmental Regulators

Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) continues to approve permits to the proposed mine, despite significant environmental concerns, disruptions to outdoor recreation, and public pushback. Urge them to stand with the people of Michigan by denying all additional permits!

COntact Egle

Gogebic County Board of Commissioners

The Gogebic County Board of Commissioners continue to approve Resolutions of Support for the mine, despite pushback from the community, the local Tribe, and folks from around Michigan and beyond. Contact the Commissioners and tell them: 1) your tourist dollars are on the line; 2) the County's reputation is on the line; 3) Lake Superior and the Porcupine Mountains belong to all of us!

Contact the Commissioners

Resources to defeat the Michigan grant to Copperwood

Please read below for more information.

Overview

Top Decision-Makers

For personal phone calls and written messages, include this

STEP ONE: Complete the Fast Action Form (takes just two minutes!)

STEP TWO: Make a phone call / send a personal email

Out-of-state residents encouraged!

E-mail Addresses

Phone Numbers

STEP THREE: Direct outreach to lawmakers (Michigan residents)

STEP FOUR: Reach out to your national Congress members

ALERT! The mining company has begun lobbying the national Congress!

STEP FIVE: More resources

STEP SIX: Share with others!

Help Our Cause

Out-of-State Residents Encouraged to Participate in All Steps!

Put Pressure at the Top!

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel

Michigan's Environmental Regulators

Gogebic County Board of Commissioners

Resources to defeat the Michigan grant to Copperwood

Please read below for more information.

Overview

Top Decision-Makers

For personal phone calls and written messages, include this

STEP ONE: Complete the Fast Action Form (takes just two minutes!)

STEP TWO: Make a phone call / send a personal email

Out-of-state residents encouraged!

E-mail Addresses

Phone Numbers

STEP THREE: Direct outreach to lawmakers (Michigan residents)

STEP FOUR: Reach out to your national Congress members

ALERT! The mining company has begun lobbying the national Congress!

STEP FIVE: More resources

STEP SIX: Share with others!

Help Our Cause

Out-of-State Residents Encouraged to Participate in All Steps!

Put Pressure at the Top!

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel

Michigan's Environmental Regulators

Gogebic County Board of Commissioners

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