The Clock is Ticking!

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Keweenaw Land Association (KLA) has applied for multiple mineral leases from the State of Michigan for metallic mineral rights located within Meyer Township Spalding Township and Holmes Township.  The KLA is not a mining company.  In December 2021 the KLA’s business was “forest products and land management.”  Although KLA declared itself to be “focused” on mineral assets as of 2022, this does NOT make it an exploration company.  KLA is not conducting exploration or mining activities.  A mining company, by definition, operates mines; a mining company conducts the exploration, extraction, processing, and production of ore.  KLA pursues none of these activities.  KLA’s current goal seems to be the capture of state mineral leases in order to control them and re-market the mineral packages to “partners” who might have the capacity to conduct exploration work.  The State of Michigan should avoid the risks and complexities of this scenario, and lease only to qualified applicants.

The DNR’s process of allowing the nomination of metallic mineral leases serves only a handful of self-interested corporations seeking to control substantial blocks of public mineral rights.  The rights of the public, and the well-being of public trust resources like lakes, wetlands and wild rivers which may be found at the surface, are substantially ignored in this process.

The DNR’s Primary Statutory Obligation: to protect and conserve the NREPA Act of 1994, 324.503 Duties of Department.  First and foremost, “ (1) The department shall protect and conserve the natural resources of this state; provide and develop facilities for outdoor recreation; prevent the destruction of timber and other forest growth by fire or otherwise; promote the reforesting of forestlands belonging to the state; prevent and guard against the pollution of lakes and streams within this state and enforce all laws provided for that purpose with all authority granted by the law; and foster and encourage the protection and propagation of game and fish.

Sec. 503 eventually goes on to mention authorities for economic decision such as mineral leasing and concessions, but the clear and primary mandate of Sec. 503 is that natural resources are to be protected prior to economic considerations.

If this application is approved all landowners will be subjected to massive drilling of test holes on State land to determine the validity of sulfide mining.  Test drilling was also done on the site of the proposed Back Forty Mine, which to this day have not been properly abandoned and sealed, creating potential contamination sites for underlying water aquifers.  Where is the DNR oversite?

There has never been a sulfide mine that has not polluted nearby water resources.  The legacy of sulfide mining is Acid Mine Drainage.  AMD poisons water forever.   The Department of Natural Resources’ first duty is to “protect and conserve the natural resources of this state” and this specifically includes the prevention of harm, and a further charge to “prevent and guard against the pollution of lakes and streams.”   The DNR is obligated to deny the applications from the Keweenaw Land Association for Metallic Mineral Leases for reasons listed above.

Filling out this form will send the email with the text below added to it.

Keweenaw Land Association (KLA) has applied for multiple mineral leases from the State of Michigan for metallic mineral rights located within Meyer Township Spalding Township and Holmes Township.  The KLA is not a mining company.  In December 2021 the KLA’s business was “forest products and land management.”  Although KLA declared itself to be “focused” on mineral assets as of 2022, this does NOT make it an exploration company.  KLA is not conducting exploration or mining activities.  A mining company, by definition, operates mines; a mining company conducts the exploration, extraction, processing, and production of ore.  KLA pursues none of these activities.  KLA’s current goal seems to be the capture of state mineral leases in order to control them and re-market the mineral packages to “partners” who might have the capacity to conduct exploration work.  The State of Michigan should avoid the risks and complexities of this scenario, and lease only to qualified applicants.

The DNR’s process of allowing the nomination of metallic mineral leases serves only a handful of self-interested corporations seeking to control substantial blocks of public mineral rights.  The rights of the public, and the well-being of public trust resources like lakes, wetlands and wild rivers which may be found at the surface, are substantially ignored in this process.

The DNR’s Primary Statutory Obligation: to protect and conserve the NREPA Act of 1994, 324.503 Duties of Department.  First and foremost, “ (1) The department shall protect and conserve the natural resources of this state; provide and develop facilities for outdoor recreation; prevent the destruction of timber and other forest growth by fire or otherwise; promote the reforesting of forestlands belonging to the state; prevent and guard against the pollution of lakes and streams within this state and enforce all laws provided for that purpose with all authority granted by the law; and foster and encourage the protection and propagation of game and fish.

Sec. 503 eventually goes on to mention authorities for economic decision such as mineral leasing and concessions, but the clear and primary mandate of Sec. 503 is that natural resources are to be protected prior to economic considerations.

If this application is approved all landowners will be subjected to massive drilling of test holes on State land to determine the validity of sulfide mining.  Test drilling was also done on the site of the proposed Back Forty Mine, which to this day have not been properly abandoned and sealed, creating potential contamination sites for underlying water aquifers.  Where is the DNR oversite?

There has never been a sulfide mine that has not polluted nearby water resources.  The legacy of sulfide mining is Acid Mine Drainage.  AMD poisons water forever.   The Department of Natural Resources’ first duty is to “protect and conserve the natural resources of this state” and this specifically includes the prevention of harm, and a further charge to “prevent and guard against the pollution of lakes and streams.”   The DNR is obligated to deny the applications from the Keweenaw Land Association for Metallic Mineral Leases for reasons listed above.