By Nicole Walton
Marquette, MI – The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality can resume its review of Kennecott Minerals mining application. The Michigan Court of Appeals has reversed a lower court's decision saying Kennecott's application was administratively incomplete and had to be delayed. The suit was brought by environmental groups and the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community. Jon Cherry is manager of the Kennecott Eagle Project. He says the permitting process can once again go forth, but he's not sure how far the application timeline has been pushed back by the litigation. Meanwhile, the groups that initially brought the suit are opposing the judge's decision. Cynthia Pryor, executive director of the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve, says they'll take the case to the Michigan Supreme Court. She notes they have 42 days from the judge's action until it goes into effect.
Kennecott wants to construct a sulfide mine on the Yellow Dog Plains in Marquette County.