QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT MICHIGAN, WISCONSIN AND MINNESOTA
STEPHENSON, Mich. Dec. 19, 2017 – This week we came across three questions that we felt needed clarification. The questions span Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
1. Does the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (“MDEQ”) have the authority to make wetlands permit decisions?
Yes. The EPA approved Michigan’s request for delegation of federal wetlands permits in the early 1980s. To maintain this authority, Michigan’s laws and regulations must remain consistent with the Clean Water Act (CWA). Even though MDEQ has this authority, they will gather input from various regulatory agencies, including from the EPA, regarding Aquila's wetland permit application for the Back Forty Mine.
2. Did Aquila Resources open offices in Wisconsin?
No. The company may conduct exploration actives in Marathon and Taylor counties in late 2018. Prior to any activity taking place, Aquila will work with the State of Wisconsin and local officials.
3. Is Aquila developing three open-pit mines in Minnesota?
If you have questions or concerns, please contact us at 906-753-9602, email us, or send us a message through our website.
DOES CANADA STILL MINE ZINC AND GOLD?
STEPHENSON, Mich. Dec. 14, 2017 – Recently, we heard a claim that Canada has outlawed 'sulfide' mining. To make a long story short, this claim is false.
Our friends to the north did not outlaw the mining of sulfide-bearing ore bodies. In fact, we asked Justyna Laurie-Lean, Vice President Environment and Regulatory Affairs for the Mining Association of Canada (MAC), this very question. “Much of Canadian deposits and host rock have sulfides, so such a ban would be ludicrous,” Laurie-Jean replied in an email. In addition, MAC’s 2017 Guide to the Management of Tailings Facilities talks to the management of sulfide tailings.
There is no basis for describing a zinc, copper or any other mineral mine as a “sulfide mine.” The term “sulfide mining” is slang, not a scientific or industry term. It is a term used by mining opponents to elicit concern and to confuse people. They want people to think that a mining company is producing something other than the minerals needed by society, like zinc, copper, lead and other important raw materials. These metals occur naturally as sulfide-bearing mineral groups.
The London Metal Exchange (LME) is world's largest commodities exchange for metals. You will not find 'sulfides' on the list of metals being traded on the exchange. What you will find on the exchange are metals like those that we will mine at Back Forty: zinc, gold, copper, silver and lead.
So, what about the sulfides? The minerals that make up the sulfides are composed of metal cations (+2 charge) combined with sulfur(S). For example, chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) is the most abundant type of copper-bearing ore. Sulfide bearing tailings and waste rock will be stored on the Tailings and Waste Rock Management Facility (TWRMF) and Waste Rock Storage Facility. These facilities are designed to prevent metals from getting into the groundwater. They will feature multi-layered pads with a leak detection systems and sumps. All water on site, including from these sumps, is collected and either reused in the mining process or sent to the water treatment plant for processing prior to discharging to the river.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact us at 906-753-9602, email us, or send us a message through our website.
BACK FORTY MINE ADDRESSES MISINFORMATION
STEPHENSON, Mich. Sept. 22, 2017 – Misinformation causes needless worry and concern for those unfamiliar with today's advanced mining practices. Aquila’s Director of Social Performance and Engagement Chantae Lessard spoke with Media Trackers regarding such information and the company's regret for not talking sooner with the community. "Unfortunately I think a lot of people don’t understand mining technology today, they are looking at mines that started 50-75 years ago, and today the technology has really changed," Lessard says.
Our future is deeply depending on mining and it becomes more evident as the years continue. Electronics, medical devices, pollution control systems, electric cars and renewable energy technology all count on the raw materials like those we'll produce at Back Forty Mine.
The historical legacy of mining offers numerous examples of what not to do. Like any industry, we've learned over the years how to do things better, smarter and with less impact on the environment. Aquila Resources and Back Forty Mine are committed to meeting the environmental requirements set forth in our permits and will comply with with all applicable regulations. "We believe we can have both a strong economy and clean environment with modern mining practices, " Lessard says.
The full interview with Chantae Lessard can be found on Media Trackers website.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact us at 906-753-9602, email us, or send us a message through our website.
