Small Win! Tilden Mine Permit Application Withdrawn Following Public and Agency Concerns

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Marquette, MI: Cleveland Cliffs withdrew its permit application to fill 77.9 acres of wetlands and 4,661 linear feet of streams with mine waste as of June 20, 2024. The withdrawal was recommended by Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) due to unresolved concerns about tribal coordination and concerns, as well as cumulative impacts to the Escanaba River watershed.

An engineering map identifies wetlands, lakes, and streams within the proposed mine expansion boundary.
An engineering map identifies 77.9 acres wetlands and lakes and 4,661 linear ft of streams within the 2023 proposed mine expansion boundary. Courtesy of Cleveland-Cliffs.

The public comment period for the wetland permit application ended March 9, but saw a significant amount of high-quality public comments due to advocacy by local environmental groups Citizens for a Safe & Clean Lake Superior (CSCLS) and the Mining Action Group of the UP Environmental Coalition (MAG-UPEC). Over 500 public comments were submitted, citing concerns about inadequate consideration of impact areas, including insufficient biological surveys to determine presence of protected species. Other major concerns included the large cumulative impact of recent wetland permits requested and received by Cleveland Cliffs; these total to 144.2 acres of wetlands in the past 5 years, in addition to thousands of acres of mine-impacted lands in Marquette County. Also of concern was the quality and watershed impacts of the proposed mitigation sites.

An American Bald Eagle takes off from a dead tree, with the closeby snow-covered Tilden Mine stockpiles visible through pine trees in the background.
An American Bald Eagle flies, with the closeby snow-covered Tilden Mine stockpiles in the background.

CSCLS Director Jane Fitkin says this news presents “a significant win for the power of public participation. We, and our community, are ready to respond if Tilden’s next permit application includes major wetland impacts.”

Marquette County has lost over 45,000 acres of its wetlands to industry, agriculture and development. Wetlands are crucial to overall water quality and watershed health, as they filter pollutants and excess nutrients, provide critical habitat for diverse native flora and fauna, and lessen impacts of flooding and erosion due to their ability to hold large amounts of water.

Cliffs is expected to submit a new application for the expansion of the waste rock stockpiles at Tilden Mine, but it is unclear at this point if wetland impacts will be avoided. In the case of regulated ecosystem impacts, there would be a public notice period and concerned citizens will need to request another public hearing.

 

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Contact: Jane Fitkin, jane@citizensforsuperior.org

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Citizens For a Safe & Clean Lake Superior