To the editor:
Once again the state is considering granting $50 million to an inexperienced Canadian mining company. The goal of this company is to mine low grade copper next to and underneath the Porcupine Mountains State Park and within 100 feet of Lake Superior. That copper would then be shipped to Canada. This low grade copper would generate 1,970 pounds of waste (toxic) for every 30 pounds of copper produced. Over 30 million tons of this waste would then be stored on site, just uphill from the worlds largest, cleanest site of surface freshwater, Lake Superior.
Why on earth would the state allow or even want the smaller boom-and-bust mining industry ($1 billion annually) to endanger the larger outdoor recreation industry ($12 billion annually) which is strong, sustained, and does not endanger water and life?
This grant was rejected by the state twice last year, but it has come up again and appears to have some backers in government. Please take a moment to look at the damage this mine could do at ProtectThePorkies. com and to reach out to Representative Bergman at (231) 944-7633 or Bergman.constituant@ mail.house.gov and urge him to reject this grant and protect our natural resources.
Leslie Suitor Elmwood Township
