The Department of Natural Resources and Environment announced today it has issued environmental permits for the Kennecott Eagle Minerals Company's proposed use of the Humboldt Mill Facility near Marquette.  Kennecott plans to reopen the mill and use it to treat ore from its nearby Eagle Project Mine. 

The permits issued today include an Air Use Permit for new sources of air emissions, a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit for the discharge of treated process water to surface waters, a Nonferrous Metallic Mineral Mining Permit for operation and reclamation of the facility, and an Inland Lakes and Streams Permit for placement of tailings into the Humboldt pit.

The Humboldt Mill is located near Champion, about 25 miles west of Marquette.  The mill was originally constructed to process ore from the Humboldt open pit iron mine.  The mine was closed in 1972, and the pit filled with water.  The mill was later used to process gold ore, with the finely-ground waste rock, or tailings, placed in the pit.  The Humboldt site has been unused since 1985.

Under Kennecott's plan, the ore would be transported by truck to the Humboldt Mill, where it will be finely ground.  The metallic minerals will be separated and transported by rail for further processing in Ontario, while the resulting tailings will be placed in the bottom of the Humboldt pit to isolate potential contaminants from the environment. 

Kennecott originally submitted permit applications for the mill in December 2008.  The DNRE provided multiple opportunities for public input and exchange of information, including a public meeting on the mining permit application and a consolidated public hearing on the four environmental permits.

The DNRE conducted a thorough multi-disciplinary review of the permit applications and required Kennecott to submit additional information based on the review and questions raised through the public comment process.  The DNRE has concluded that Kennecott's applications meet the requirements of Michigan law, and the mill operation will provide the necessary protection for the environment, natural resources, and public health. 

Copies of the permits and additional information is available online at http://tiny.cc/A7SMJ.

The DNRE is committed to conserve, manage, protect, and promote accessible use and enjoyment of the state's environmental, natural resource, and related economic interests for current and future generations.

Editor's note:  DNRE environmental news releases are available on the department's Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq .