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STEPHENSON -- Communities across the Great Lakes region have been rediscovering their roots in mining - an industry that is significant to our heritage, central to our culture, and vital to our economy. From nickel and copper to zinc and gold, these precious minerals are proving that mining means good jobs as well as a protected environment, thanks to technological innovation and proper regulation.
In other words: Mining may extract resources from the earth, but these days we don't have to choose between a strong economy and a healthy environment. We can have both.
As you may know, Lake Township, Mich., was discovered more than 10 years ago to be an area rich in zinc and gold. In addition, the "Back Forty" deposit hosts copper, silver, and trace amounts of other minerals. Aquila Resources has received three of the four required permits from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to build the mine. The fourth and final permit is a Wetlands permit with approval expected as soon as this winter.
As a fourth-generation miner myself, I've seen firsthand what mining can mean for a local economy - my father, both grandfathers, and great-grandfather were all miners. And even though the mine is located across the border in Michigan, the economic impact would directly benefit the four-county area of Marinette County in Wisconsin, and Dickinson, Delta and Menominee counties in Michigan.
The potential for economic growth is exciting and real. A study conducted by the University of Minnesota-Duluth (UMD) shows the economic impact would be sizeable, significant, and welcome to the region. According to UMD's Labovitz School of Business and Economics, the Back Forty Mine would generate more than 150 direct, permanent jobs and 100 indirect jobs in the region. Back Forty would create not only mining jobs but also economic growth and activity in a variety of fields, including construction, wholesale trade, maintenance, repair, restaurants, retail, accounting, and healthcare services. The tax revenue generated would exceed $20 million annually for local, state, and federal governments - which means more money for roads, schools, and other services essential to hard-working families.
Marinette County's involvement in the project is unique - it has the opportunity to benefit from nearby jobs and economic growth, without a single inch of its surface giving way to mining. That's an even more remarkable opportunity than is already offered to the other nearby counties in the form of safe and responsible mining practices.
Naturally, some groups will be concerned about mining no matter the economic opportunities it provides. But this does not have to be an either-or proposition. We have the technical know-how and experience to ensure that mining is conducted safely while preserving and protecting the beautiful natural resources that Wisconsin and Michigan share.
Throughout the process we will hold ourselves to the highest of standards and use the best available technology. From start to finish, we will implement strict, safe, and sensible requirements that will result in clean water, clean air, and a clean footprint in Menominee County.
The community has expressed particularly concern over water quality and we want you to know that the entire site is designed to manage and protect water. For example, all water that comes into contact with mining activities, such as rainwater and snowmelt, will be collected in one of two lined water collection basins, from there the water is sent to an on-site water treatment plant where the quality of treated water must meet or exceed drinking water quality standards. Once the expected eight-year mine life is complete, the site will be reclaimed - at no cost to the taxpayer - to a self-sustaining ecosystem that is compatible with existing uses on adjacent properties.
We want to work with the community that have a stake in our project to ensure economic prosperity in the region and at the same time protect the natural environment that we all enjoy.
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Chantae Lessard is director of social responsibility and engagement for Aquila Resources.