Success: No Taxpayer Money for the Copperwood Mine!

Before we celebrate, let's be clear on two things: first, the mine still has the potential to come to operation through private investment. Second, we also wouldn't be surprised if the mine's proponents try some shenanigans in the coming years to push state funding through. We're staying vigilant, and we’ll let you know if anything new comes up.

"A healthy Lake Superior is quintessential to our heritage in the Upper Peninsula,” said Jane Fitkin, our Director at Citizens for a Safe & Clean Lake Superior. “We're thankful to the Senators for listening to the people, recognizing the harm posed by the Copperwood Mine, and preventing our tax dollars from being misused on this irresponsible project. This movement is strong and resilient, as is Lake Superior, and we are prepared to continue to joyfully defend our Lake, land, and communities from the Copperwood Mine."

Let's also be clear on the good news, though! This is a significant victory for the campaign to Protect the Porkies, which Citizens for Superior is part of, as well as the 350,000+ people who have signed this Change.org petition in opposition to the grant, and our many nonhuman relatives that call the Porkies home. Over the last few weeks, thousands of people have taken steps to reach out to the legislators on the Michigan Appropriations Committees, to demand that they reject the grant and instead prioritize health and longevity for Lake Superior and Porcupine Mountains State Park.

Over at Protect the Porkies, our main collaborator and partner in the fight against Copperwood, Tom Grotewohl says: “Despite the company's claims to investors, Copperwood does not have social license. The health of our majestic lands and pristine waters are infinitely more valuable than copper to be shipped out of country and boom-and-bust jobs to renew the vicious cycle of short-term gain followed by long-term decline. Funders would be wise to observe the direction the wind is blowing and invest their capital elsewhere."

Our Director, Jane, made her first-ever trip down to the State Capitol this month to make sure the legislators heard us and heard the important reasons why to reject the Copperwood Mine. In case you're wondering, here are just a few of those reasons:

• Highland Copper plans to mine within 100 feet of Lake Superior, adjacent to and potentially underneath Porcupine Mountains State Park. They plan to mine for the copper in a sulfide-rich ore body, which exposes toxic metals such as mercury and arsenic to nearby watersheds and Lake Superior. There has never been a sulfide mine that has not polluted nearby water sources.
• Over its proposed 10.7 years of operation, Copperwood will produce over 30 million tons of waste, containing toxic metals and chemicals. Its proposed waste storage facility is a 323-acre tailings “pond” a mere 2 miles from Lake Superior. The pond is designed to withstand 1-in-100-year storm events; however, the immediate area surrounding the mine site has experienced 2 extremely intense, 1-in-1000 storm events in the last decade. This, along with tailings ponds’ bad track record of failure across the board, effectively predict a failure. When that happens, the waste will barrel towards Lake Superior, reaching the Lake in as few as 21 minutes and causing irreparable ecosystem harm.
• Mines almost always cause negative long-term effects on rural economies, despite short-term benefits. Local authorities have supported the mine largely because they believe it will bring jobs. However, the grant text specifies that many of the 380 jobs Highland Copper claims it will create will go to out-of-state residents, and they plan to transfer employees from the closing Eagle Mine to fill open positions. This will leave local residents without employment at the mine, which would only operate for 10.7 years.

To learn more, visit our Copperwood webpage.

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to sign the petition and contact the legislators. If you haven't signed the petition yet, this is your opportunity! Citizens for Superior is proud to work on important issues like the Copperwood Mine, watching over the Superior watershed to hold bad actors accountable and give the people, and the lake, a voice. Help fuel our advocacy work by sending a donation our way before the end of the year.