PR Firm, Foth & VanDyke, Contracted by MPC for UP Metallic Sulfide Mine Project

The National Environmental Policy Act, 1969, delegates responsibility in creating an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to relevant state and federal agencies, such as the DEQ or DNR. The Michigan DEQ has allowed Kennecott Minerals to conduct its own EIA. By rejecting repeated calls by Michigan citizens and legislators for an independent United States Geological Study (USGS) hydrologic study of the Yellow Dog Plains [1], the DEQ has insured that the permit process will rely on company-projected data. This has allowed Kennecott to hire the consulting and engineering firm, Foth & VanDyke to perform an EIS for the project.

In the case of the Flambeau Mine, Kennecott Minerals hired Foth, based in Green Bay, to assist in the permitting, development and final closure of the mine, including conducting environmental studies to determine projected environmental impacts. More recently, Kennecott retained the firm’s services in producing an EIA for the Eagle Project.

MPC/Aquila has hired Foth & VanDyke to work on the Back Forty Project in Lake Township, near the Menominee River. Foth is currently advertising positions for a mining hydrogeologist (based in Green Bay, WI) and a lead hydrogeologist (based in Minneapolis/St. Paul), preferably with work experience in Michigan or Minnesota. The applicant must ‘be able to prepare EIS documentation and permit applications’ and perform “hydrogeologic and hydrologic investigations for metallic mining projects.” An applicant with “established working relationships with federal and state agencies,” such as the DNR or DEQ, is also preferred.

Recent developments at the DEQ have emphasized again the close working relationship between state geologists and mining companies in an effort to more efficiently navigate the permit approval process.

1 Mackin, Pete, “DEQ Doesn’t Want Water Survey on Yellow Dog Plains,” The Mining Journal, January 23, 2005 http://www.savethewildup.org/newsearch/?cx=012369590406675989160:tjovl2w-crm&q=USGS+Survey&sa=Search&cof=FORID:11#192

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