The Department of Environmental Quality announced a public hearing today to accept comments on the department's proposed decision to approve a series of permits to the Kennecott Eagle Minerals Company (KEMC) to reopen and conduct milling operations at the Humboldt Mill.  The proposed decision follows a period of extensive review by the DEQ of Kennecott's application, supporting information, and public comment.

The public hearing will be held on December 1, 2009, in Ishpeming, Michigan, at the Westwood High School Auditorium, 300 Westwood Drive, from 4:00 to 10:00 p.m.  The DEQ will continue to accept written comments for 28 days after the hearing.  Final permit decisions are expected to be issued in early 2010.

KEMC is proposing to reuse the existing Humboldt Mill facilities located in Humboldt Township, Marquette County, to process ore from its Eagle Mine.  KEMC plans to truck the ore to the Humboldt Mill, where it would be milled and separated to form a concentrate.  Residual waste rock, or tailings, would be placed in the now-abandoned Humboldt Mine pit.  The concentrate would then be shipped by rail to an off-site smelter. 

The proposed mill operation requires a Mining Permit under Michigan's mining law, and strict and comprehensive requirements for all aspects of the mining operation including storage, treatment, and disposal of ore, waste rock, tailings, and other materials.  The permitting process under the law requires an environmental impact assessment, a detailed mining and reclamation plan, and a contingency plan.  In addition, the law requires financial assurance to cover remediation and reclamation costs, reporting of accidents and releases, post-closure monitoring, and annual status reports.  At the end of a mine's life, the site and surrounding area would have to be reclaimed to establish a self-sustaining ecosystem that does not need ongoing care.

The proposed mill operation also requires an Air Use Permit for air discharges, a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit for the discharge of treated process wastewater, and an Inland Lakes and Streams Permit for placement of mill tailings into the Humboldt mine pit. 

KEMC submitted applications for the permits in December 2008.  The DEQ formed a review team made up of environmental and natural resource specialists from the DEQ, Department of Natural Resources, and one outside contractor.  The DEQ held an initial public meeting on the Mining Permit application in February 2009 in Humboldt Township and accepted written comments.  As a result of its initial review, the DEQ requested additional information from KEMC.  The request incorporated pertinent public comments that had been received, as well as questions arising from the DEQ review team 's independent evaluation.

Editor's note:  DEQ news releases are available on the department's Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

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