A complete list of all programs within the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)
Community involvement and public participation are an essential part of EGLE’s mission, vision, and values.
Resources and information on utilizing RRD's data exchange and the Inventory of Facilities.
An interactive map displaying contaminated sites throughout Michigan regulated under Parts 213, 201, and 211.
EGLE's interactive calendar is designed to provide timely information on decisions before the Director, proposed settlements of contested cases, administrative rules promulgation, public hearings, meetings and comment deadlines, and environmental conferences, workshops and training programs.
The Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) provides all persons (except persons incarcerated in correctional facilities) with access to public records of public bodies. Requests to inspect or receive public records from EGLE must be in writing and describe the requested records with enough detail to enable the department to identify and locate the requested records. Some records are exempt from disclosure under the FOIA or another statute and thus will not be provided. A fee may be charged to process your request. Please note that many records are available that do not require a formal FOIA request.
Search is currently unavailable. Please try again later.
The web Browser you are currently using is unsupported, and some features of this site may not work as intended. Please update to a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Edge to experience all features Michigan.gov has to offer.
Regulated by Part 631: Ferrous Mineral Mining, ferrous or iron containing minerals are used in common manufactured products. Michigan’s iron bearing formations have long been sources of these important minerals. Lake Superior iron deposits account for 90 percent of U.S. iron production over the last 50 years and Michigan and Minnesota are the only states within the U.S. that currently mine iron ore.
Part 631: Ferrous Mineral Mining provides a sound regulatory framework for the mining operations and reclamation required for the safe and environmentally sustainable extraction of ferrous minerals. EGLE implements Part 631. The ferrous mining industry is also regulated by other environmental statutes and divisions within EGLE such as the Air Quality Division and the Water Resources Division.
There are currently two permitted iron mines in Michigan, both in Marquette County – the Tilden Mine and Empire.
Empire Mine
The Empire Mine is located on the Marquette Iron Range, adjacent to the Tilden Mine south of Ishpeming. The Empire Mine was permitted under Part 631 in 2002 as an active open pit mine and processing plant until 2016 when the decision was made to indefinitely idle the iron ore mining and pellet production activities. This decision was made due to the expiration of partnership and commercial agreements and the limited availability of economic ore reserves. A long-term care and maintenance plan is in place to preserve the assets for future optionality if market conditions improve and justify the major capitol investment required to access these resources.
Part 631 requires the submission of an annual report showing all existing mining areas or areas subjected to mining by the operator of the mine as well as the progress and success of reclamation activities.
Mining Permit Status: Issued, in effect
Annual Reports:
2022 Combined Annual Report for Empire and Tilden Mines
2023 Empire Mine Annual Report
Tilden Mine
The Tilden Mine is an active open pit mine located on the Marquette Iron Range, approximately five miles south of Ishpeming. Permitted under Part 631 in 2002, this mine is owned and operated by Cleveland-Cliffs Inc, and consists of an open pit, truck and shovel mine with on-site single stage primary crushing, autogenous grinding, and floatation separation processes and pellet plant. Iron ore pellets are transported from the mine site by rail to a deepwater port located in Marquette. The Tilden Mine produces several million long tons of Iron ore pellets each year.
Part 631 requires the submission of an annual report showing all existing mining areas or areas subjected to mining by the operator of the mine as well as the progress and success of reclamation activities.
Mining Permit Status: Issued, in effect
Annual Reports:
2022 Combined Annual Report for the Tilden and Empire Mines
2023 Tilden Mine Annual Report
