A tale of two failures.
On a TV program named “Living on Earth” host Richard Brooks was interviewing folks concerning White Pine smelter emissions. NWF had brought suit against Copper Range. Michigan Attorney General Frank Kelly was interviewed. I will quote directly from the transcript, which is available from Google under “Michigan Smelters”. (Google’s first response showed a lot of people in a small creek after dark wielding large dipnets. So we tried again.)
BROOKS: “Copper Range’s intransigence was nothing new. Internal state documents show the company was aware of its emission violations as early as 1975. Other memos say Copper Range used political pressure to avoid testing and compliance with environmental laws throughout the 80’s. The NWF suit forced the State of Michigan’s hand. To remain a part of the negotiations, Michigan AG Frank Kelly intervened in the case. He admits the state had been slow to respond.” (My italics – 15 years!)
KELLY: “There was pressure for me not to enter the case, because they felt that it might have an adverse impact on the economy if I were to come in and insist on full application of environmental laws, that the Copper Range company might make a decision to move – something they hinted at earlier in the litigation, when it was first started by the environmental groups.”
Frank took the threat seriously. I would have asked for details: “Which would they move first – the mine or the 500ft smokestack?” The Attorney General had failed “Under pressure” to intervene in a serious lawsuit.
ACT 2 IS SHORTER: It is 2012. About 6 years ago the MDEQ accepted an atrocious Kennecott application for permits to mine at the Eagle prospect near Marquette. Acceptance was obviously illicit because the mining experts hired to evaluate the document advised that the document fell far short of being acceptable.
The DEQ’s own expert wrote that the conclusions reached in the document “Were not considered to be defensible.” In plain English – they could not be supported by facts.
NWF’s experts recommended “That the document be returned to sender.”
Despite those expert opinions MDEQ accepted the document and went on to issue permits on demand.
In September 2011 Michigan AG Schuette, also under pressure – failed in his role to pursue this case, which involves a $4,300,000,000 fraud.
The application should be rejected immediately and retroactively.
Jack Parker, Mining Engineer, Baltic, MI 49963 Jan 4th 2012
