WHAT IS A SUPERFUND SITE?
Since 1980, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as Superfund, has directed the cleanup of hazardous waste sites and responded to local and nationally significant environmental emergencies. The program focuses on a few specific areas: manufacturing facilities, processing plants, landfills, and mining sites.
The mining facilities on the list include historical operations. Many of these sites began operations in the 1800s and early 1900s and were closed or abandoned.
Today we talk about 'modern' mining and the advancement of our industry. According to the EPA and National Mining Association, the modern era of mining dates back to the 1990s (EPA, 2018). It is during this time that facilities started operating under current management practices and present-day environmental regulations.
The total number of hard rock mines permitted in the U.S. since 1990 is nearly 3,400 (Baird, 2018). None of the sites are on the Superfund list.
Unlike past mining, today the industry is safer and more environmentally friendly than ever before. Water treatment and reclamation activities are an upfront, essential part of project development. Companies are required to provide financial assurance before starting any construction or mining activity. Assurance acts as security for the community, seeing that the State has the right amount of money available to close and reclaim the site at any given time if the company is unable to do so. It also protects taxpayers and the community from these obligations.
Like many industries, mining has evolved. We have the technology available and experience necessary to ensure that mining is safe and protective of the environment – meaning we can have both a strong economy and clean environment. For example, the Flambeau Mine (seen below) is a model for how today’s mining companies operate and successfully close operations, while protecting the environment.
At Back Forty, we’re designing a modern mine. We will be a world-class mining operation that protects and minimizes impacts to our environment, promotes sustainable benefit for communities and stakeholders, and inspires commitment to a safe, injury-free workplace for all workers, every day.
WE'RE HIRING FOR A FACILITIES MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN
STEPHENSON, Mich. July 16, 2018 – Aquila Resources is hiring for a Facilities Maintenance Technician at the Back Forty Mine in Stephenson, MI. A complete role description can be found here.
LEGISLATION PASSES TO IMPROVE TRANSPARENCY AND RULE-MAKING PROCESS
STEPHENSON, Mich. July 2, 2018 –Recently, a series of bills that improve transparency and the DEQ rule-making process have become law. These bills enable fact and science, rather than personal opinion, dictate permit decisions.
Senate Bills 652-654 create three independent bodies with a diverse range of topic experts. The goal of the bills is to provide a further review of permitting processes and decisions and advise on issues safeguarding the environment. Senate Bill 839 focuses on the permit amendment process.
SB 652 reestablishes an Environmental Science Advisory Board to hear scientific evidence and provide a recommendation to the governor.
SB 653 creates an 11-member stakeholder committee to review, amend, deny and approve DEQ rule notifiction.
SB 654 establishes an appeals board that, upon request, would serve as a scientific permit review panel to hear an appeal by a permit application that has been denied by the DEQ.
SB 839 clarifies the process for addressing changes in a mining permit, and allows for punctual action on changes where minimal to no adverse environmental impacts would result.
You can read a legislative analysis for SB 652-654 by clicking here.
For more information on SB 839, including the process for the new law, click here.
If you have questions about this topic or anything else, please contact us.
SPRING 2018 NEWSLETTER
As the Back Forty Mine continues to develop, transparency and effective communication become more important. We recently published a newsletter as just one part of our effort to improve communication with the community now and in the future. It is also a suggestion we received from community members. Here’s a snapshot of where the project is today:
• The project is nearing the final stages of permitting. We look forward to regulatory approval of the wetlands permit by mid-2018.
• We’ve invested more than $90 million into the project and plan to spend more than $260 million to construct the mine.
• Drilling program results provide opportunity for future expansion.
BEYOND MINING
We want to help improve the overall economic strength of the community and the economic quality of life for all residents resulting from our mining activities. Typically, the additional tax revenues generated by a mine provide significant benefits.
In a typical year, we’ll pay roughly $20 million in taxes to federal, state, and local governments. About $5 million of those tax dollars will be distributed to Lake Township as a result of Michigan’s Nonferrous Metallic Minerals Extraction Severance Tax. The Severance Tax will disperse just like general ad valorem property taxes. What does this mean for residents? It means that there will be more money for infrastructure such as broadband and road upgrades, or new technology in schools, a local fire hall, or recreational trails.
Below you’ll find an example of the allocation of Severance Taxes to the local community during an average year.
* Calculated using metal prices of $1.20/lb zinc and $1,300/oz gold. These prices are subject to change depending on market conditions.
PROJECT TIMELINE
For more than 15 years we’ve been developing the Back Forty Mine. Recently, we cleared a permit hurdle and we expect to have all permits required to construct and operate the mine by mid-2018. Now, our team is focusing on engineering and planning for construction with the ultimate destination in mind – closure.
As members of the community, we pledge to respect all people and not to harm the environment in Menominee County. We’ve used various communication techniques over the years to capture your feedback and improve the way we do business.
COMMUNITY RESPONSE TOOLS
Recently, we added a new set of Community Response tools to create even more opportunity for you to contact us. The tools will enhance and streamline the way community members notify us of feedback, concerns, and grievances about our operation. We are leveraging technology to ensure more timely responses to the community, and complement traditional communication and increase access to the Back Forty Team.
Below you’ll find two new ways to reach us. Both the phone number and online form allow you to contact us 24/7 at your convenience.
• Community Response Line (906) 451-4192
• Online Response Form backfortymine.com/contactus
Of course, you’re welcome to stop by our office during regular business hours.
If you have any questions or concerns about the information in this newsletter or any other topic, please let us know. We look forward to hearing from you.
TRAILS & TALES OUTDOORS RADIO INTERVIEW FEATURING CHANTAE LESSARD
Recently, Aquila’s Director of Social Performance and Engagement Chantae Lessard spoke with Tails & Trails Outdoors Executive Producer Tim Kobasic about the Back Forty Mine. Tim’s weekly program discusses events and topics of importance to outdoor enthusiast in the Upper Great Lakes region. In this episode, they talk a range of points about the mine as it relates to the area, including environmental protection, economic impact, aesthetics, advancement of mining practices, and more.
Listen to the two-part interview, which we hope is one of many to come.
GUEST BLOG: JOBS VERSUS THE ENVIRONMENT IS A FALSE DICHOTOMY OF CHOICES FOR MINING PROJECT
By Dan Wiitala, Professional Geologist, Marquette, MI
There often exists a false dichotomy of choices that are presented for any new project development. This is especially true of resource extraction projects, such as mining for metals. Our experience has been that both sides of the issue are often presented just that way. On the pro-business side, the argument has historically been made that regulations ruin business. On the pro-environment side, the argument is typically that business ruins the environment. It then becomes “jobs versus the environment” and we are led to believe we can’t have it both ways. In actuality, both sides hold a piece of the truth, but neither is a whole truth in most cases.
Yes, regulations drive up the cost of doing business, but the upside is reducing community risk. Yes, we can easily point to places where unregulated business has resulted in environmental damage, but environmental control technology, best management practices, and cultural changes in workplace safety have greatly reduced these problems in modern project development. Both sides certainly play on fear to rally their base supporters but what can we actually expect to result from a modern mining project in our backyard?
Eagle Mine in northern Marquette County provides a case study where we have the opportunity to look back on what was predicted and what has occurred. Supporters of the mine rallied behind the economic gains that would result from a relatively large project in the county. In fact, Eagle has resulted in hundreds of local jobs, state royalties, and local taxes that have had a clear and measurable economic impact. For full disclosure, as a scientific and engineering consultant to the project, we have directly hired several employees due to the workload that our small company has had with Eagle. In turn these employees are paying rent, buying houses, and purchasing other goods and services to support a thriving local economy. Of course, unless the company makes a new discovery the mine will close in several years and the jobs, royalties, taxes, will no longer be provided by the mine. This may result in an economic contraction, so other new projects (mining or otherwise) will have to take up the slack. Change isn’t easy but inevitable, and without allowing new projects to move forward there can be no economic or community progress.
Opponents predicted many problems if mining were allowed to happen at Eagle. At the very least they suspected the project would change this remote location by making it busier, more accessible to people, and thereby diminish its remote character and qualities. Making worst case predictions, the mine permit was contested by opposition ‘experts’ who testified that the sulfide mineral orebody was so reactive that exposing it at the ground surface could result in a complete degradation of the Yellow Dog and Salmon Trout River watersheds. Some feared and promoted the idea that the acid rock drainage (“ARD”) from the mine site would literally cause these rivers to run red with similar effects that would be visible in Lake Superior.
Truthfully, we can now see the mine has changed the character of the area somewhat. The most visible change is that an all-season road now leads right to the mine, with a pavement so smooth and shoulders so wide that you may see NMU’s Nordic Ski Team roller skiing out there this summer. Finally, the new road has also changed stream quality for the better by repairing many sections of the old Triple A Road that produced a lot of sediment runoff to Salmon Trout tributary streams historically.
Eagle Mine’s operation has had absolutely no impact on surrounding watersheds. The stream quality remains excellent. Water quality is highly monitored by both Eagle and the independent Community Environmental Monitoring program. Groundwater levels and quality are also highly monitored at and around the mine site. Groundwater quality is monitored so tightly at Eagle that we have been able to detect just a few parts-per-billion concentration change in naturally occurring vanadium over one hundred feet beneath the surface of where treated water is returned to the environment. Keep in mind that the water they discharge has to be cleaner than drinking water.
As for the Back Forty project in Menominee County, the narrative of opposition has been that ARD will get into the Menominee River and destroy the water for fisheries and recreational use. This is a scare tactic and simply not true. Just like Eagle, the Back Forty project received its permit to mine under Michigan’s Part 632 Nonferrous Metallic Mineral Mining regulations. Extensive background data, mine site design, water treatment plant design, and on- and off-site monitoring, financial assurance, and reclamation plan are just some of the conditions included in the mine permit. If the company doesn’t meet the conditions – they don’t mine.
A very high bar for environmental responsibility has been set through the Eagle Mine and its regulated permit conditions. Even with such regulations, the mine is profitable as reported by its owner - Lundin Mining. Local and regional stakeholders have come together to realize the benefits of the mine, reduce associated risks, and adapt to the changes that any new project brings to an area. I expect that same performance can be achieved at Back Forty through diligent work of all stakeholders.
2018 MINING FOR TOMORROW ESSAY COMPETITION
2018 Mining for Tomorrow Essay Competition
Calling all high school seniors!
Back Forty Mine is pleased to announce the 2018 Mining for Tomorrow Essay Competition.
This contest engages and challenges high school students to learn and write about mining related topics. Don’t miss your chance to compete for $10,000 in educational scholarships.
For complete details, click here.
MINING AND COMMUNITY FOCUS GROUPS ANNOUNCED
STEPHENSON, Mich. Feb. 21, 2018 – Dr. Tawni Hunt Ferrarini, a Professor of Economics, is seeking community participation in a series of focus groups that will be tasked with capturing their views and opinions on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of mining in and around Menominee County.
Dr. Ferrarini is looking for participation from people who fall between the two extreme views on mining and the community, and who come from different economic, political, social, and cultural backgrounds.
The goal is to capture data from local people, therefore participants are asked to attend a session in their immediate community.
The results from the focus groups will be analyzed by Dr. Ferrarini and an executive summary will be made available to the public.
The focus groups will take place between Saturday, March 10 and Friday, March 16, 2018. A complete list of dates, locations, and times can be found by clicking the registration button below. Registration is required to attend.
WHAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF AN OPEN-PIT MINE THAT OPERATED AND CLOSED SUCCESSFULLY?
STEPHENSON, Mich. Feb. 17, 2018 – We often get asked for an example of a metallic mine that operated and closed successfully. One such example is the Flambeau Mine, located about 1.5 miles south of the City of Ladysmith in Rusk County, Wisconsin. Below you'll find photos of Flambeau both during and after operations.
Flambeau was an open-pit mine that produced copper with trace amounts of gold between 1993 and 1997. After mining ceased the pit was backfilled and the land was returned to its original contour. Today the site is home to ample wildlife, hundreds of species of plants, and year-round recreation opportunities. The nearby Flambeau River remains protected to this day.
WE'RE HIRING FOR AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
STEPHENSON, Mich. Feb. 8, 2018 – Aquila Resources is hiring for an executive assistant at the Back Forty Mine in Stephenson, MI. A complete role description can be found here. The deadline to apply for this position is February 23, 2018.