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ESCANABA -- The Delta County Board of Commissioners heard an update on ongoing efforts to establish a mine in the Stephenson area -- as well as the positive effects this project could have on Delta County -- during its statutory meeting Tuesday. Chantae Lessard, director of social performance and engagement for Aquila Resources, Inc., delivered a presentation during the meeting.
Once the mining facility (known as the Back Forty Mine) is completed, it will mine zinc, gold, copper, silver, and lead. Lessard said the people involved with the project have had ,decades of experience in the mining industry.
"It's a very experienced team -- a new team put together to develop this project," she said.
The company has already invested over $80 million into the project, and $260 million is expected to be invested into the mine's construction. Additionally, over $20 million in new tax revenue is expected to be generated in a typical year of the mine's operation.
So far, Aquila has procured three of the four Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) permits needed to move forward with construction on the Back Forty Mine, including the Nonferrous Metallic Mineral Mining Permit, the Air Use Permit to Install, and the Pollutant Discharge and Elimination System Permit. The company filed for the final DEQ permit needed, the Wetlands Protection Permit, on Oct. 2.
"If they determine that the application is complete, they will give us a permit," Lessard said.
Lessard also spoke about the mine's estimated lifespan. She said the permits Aquila has received apply solely to the mine's open-pit phase, which is expected to last for about eight years. Depending on the results of additional drilling and economic studies, Aquila may also decide to develop an underground mining operation; this would last approximately eight more years.
Later, Lessard discussed Aquila's approach to community engagement. She said along with the company's outreach efforts via traditional advertising and social media, Aquila is planning a series of focus groups in Menominee, Delta, and Dickinson counties in January.
"We're really looking at people who can sit down and have a conversation about both the benefits and the things that people are concerned about with the project," Lessard said about the goal of these focus groups.
Lessard said Aquila feels it is important to keep members of the community informed of the Back Forty Mine's progress.
"We consider anybody who is following this and interested in what's happening here a stakeholder," she said.
While the Back Forty Mine will be established in Menominee County, Lessard said the project is likely to have a considerable economic impact on Delta County, as well.
"Right now, we are doing most of our procurement … from Escanaba," she said. She also noted Aquila will be hiring locally for mine-related work as much as possible, and some residents of Delta County will likely end up working there as a result.
Lessard also addressed concerns related to the mine's environmental impact. She said all water that comes in contact with mining activities will be thoroughly treated.
"The water that we're discharging into the Menominee River is cleaner than rainwater -- cleaner than the river actually is right now," she said. According to Lessard, Aquila will take measures to mitigate issues related to dust, noise, and lights, as well.
Lessard also spoke about Aquila's plans for the natural reclamation of the Back Forty Mine site once mining operations have concluded.
"Our permit requires us, to the extent possible, to return the site to its original condition," she said. As part of the process, the mine's pit will be backfilled, all buildings and infrastructure will be removed, the mine's tailings facility will be capped, and revegetation efforts will take place.
In other business, the board:
– entered closed session to discuss County Administrator Ryan Bergman's upcoming contract negotiations and performance evaluation.
– learned the Delta Conservation District (DCD) has agreed to manage a community forest being developed on 1,400 acres of land in Cornell Township. DCD Executive Director Rory Mattson also said he has found an illegal cabin on this property, along with illegal roads, hunting blinds, and shooting lanes.
"There's definite problems out there -- we expected it," Mattson said.
– heard from Delta County Prosecuting Attorney Philip Strom about the School Justice Partnership, which the Delta County Prosecutor's Office has been awarded a grant of about $58,000 for from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. As the grant will pay for a portion of Strom's assistant Kelly Chandler's salary, and Chandler will have additional duties related to this program, the board voted to increase Chandler's hours and pay.
– agreed to send a thank you note to Pomeroy Forest Products of Rapid River in response to its bid of $80/cord to cut timber at the Delta County Service Center.
– gave the city of Escanaba permission to do solar power-related testing at the Delta County Airport.
– approved a revised sales agreement for the Fish Dam property in Garden Township.
– approved the appointment of Dan King as the county's new plumbing and mechanical inspector.
– approved the FY 2017 Emergency Management Performance Grants, which cover a portion of Delta County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Berbohm's salary.
– approved MDOT's specialized services for the 2017-18 fiscal year.
– moved the Nov. 21 meeting to Nov. 14. The board's Oct. 17 meeting was also moved from 5:15 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. due to the upcoming closure of the U.S. 2 and 41 bridge over the Escanaba River.