Powell Township is asking Rio Tinto to set aside public relations gimmicks and focus on objective, third-party air monitoring for the Eagle mine and future projects affecting their township and the surrounding region.
According to a June 3 editorial by Gene Champagne, member of Concerned Citizens of Big Bay, the Powell Township Board has unanimously endorsed a resolution focusing on these key points:
- It asks the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and/or the federal Environmental Protection Agency to develop an air quality monitoring program in our region.
- Asks that air monitors be installed at present and future mine sites, within the community of Big Bay, and at any other sites within Powell Township these agencies deem appropriate.
- Asks the DEQ/EPA to designate air quality scientists to monitor and maintain this air quality program
- Asks that the mining company covers all costs for the implementation and on-going support for this program.
- Asks that all data and information be available for citizen review.
Their actions are based on Rio Tinto’s plans to remove the filter from their air vent stack which is to be located between the Triple A Road and the Salmon Trout River, and citizen observations of fumes currently emanating from the mine site.
According to Champagne:
Kennecott has been discharging unfiltered air from the portal to the tunnel being excavated at the Eagle Mine. I have stood on AAA Road near the portal and have become nauseated by the diesel fumes on some days.
In a May 6 Mining Journal guest editorial, former DEQ employee and current Eagle Mine environmental engineer and permitting manager, Kristen Mariuzza,* says that “emissions from our mine ventilation system will be equivalent to about 15 home wood burners.” She borrowed this statement from Tom Albanese, CEO of Rio Tinto, who tried to dismiss concerns from Big Bay residents by comparing mine exhaust to wood smoke.
As Champagne says, “This sort of blame the victim public relations should not be tolerated in Michigan.”
To read the complete editorial, please click here: http://www.miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/576465/Science–public-relations-are-two-different-things.html?nav=5003
*Please refer to Jeffery Loman’s LTE regarding conflict of interest: http://www.miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/576406/Trust-is-lacking.html?nav=5067
From Jack Parker, to the Mining Journal editor:
MONITORING AIR QUALITY
Am in full agreement with the requests for accurate and independent measurement of air (and water) quality at and around the Eagle projects, including air discharged from the mine. We know full well that selective sampling can produce inaccurate assessments and wish to preclude that possibility.
However, I would like to remind Yoopers that MDEQ, MDNR and EPA are all employed and paid to do those things already – therefore they must do them, and do them properly – or resign their positions and return their salaries and benefits, with interest. There is reason to expect them to choose the latter course of action, since they have not routinely conducted independent sampling and verification of data supplied by KEMC – the regulated business.
It behooves them, therefore, to begin to perform those duties immediately and to report the results to the public immediately, in accordance with their stated mission. There is no need to demur or debate.
Monday next would be a good time to start, at the portal, when the blast products reach surface. For “demonstrations” of effectiveness, as required by Part 632, they could hook up a dozen wood-burning furnaces to a single piped exhaust and sample that too, and simply vent the mine air into the Administration building, with the media in attendance.
Thank you,
Jack Parker, Mining Engineer
Toivola, MI 49965