Michigan currently has no regulations in place to fully address the unique environmental challenges posed by sulfide mining, so the state has convened two work groups to meet through the summer and propose revisions to current statute to address these and related issues. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has convened the Work Group on Regulation of Metallic Mineral Mining and Exploration; the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has convened a separate group to examine Metallic Mineral Leasing procedures in general.

"Part 631 is inadequate in its present condition," said DEQ Deputy Director Skip Pruss at the first meeting of the DEQ work group, referring to the current state statute regulating mining in Michigan. "There are special challenges with sulfide mining. We want to make sure that our regulatory ability is commensurate with these challenges."

Kennecott Minerals Company (KMC), a subsidiary of Rio Tinto, is one of two companies currently exploring potential sulfide-ore sites in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. KMC has located what it believes to be a viable nickel and copper deposit northeast of Marquette on the Yellow Dog Plains, near the Salmon Trout and Yellow Dog Rivers and the Lake Superior shore.

According to KMC, the emerging option for the deposit, which averages approximately 3.6% nickel and 3.0% copper with minor amounts of gold and other precious metals, would be "a small underground mine with an estimated operating life of six to eight years." The other company with ongoing sulfide-ore projects in Michigan is Minerals Processing Corporation of Duluth, Minnesota, which requested metallic mineral lease rights to approximately 4,300 acres of state-owned mineral rights in Menominee County in late 2003.

The first meeting of the DEQ mining regulation work group was held on May 3 at the Little Bear East Community Center in St. Ignace. Participants included the Michigan Environmental Council and partner organizations Sierra Club, National Wildlife Federation, Central Lake Superior Watershed Partnership, Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve, Michigan Council of Trout Unlimited and Michigan United Conservation Clubs, as well as concerned local citizens, government officials and representatives of mining interests. State lawmakers working to revise mining regulations are also involved in the process, including Reps. Tom Casperson, Richard Brown and Stephen Adamini and Sen. Michael Prusi.

Sulfide mining, or nonferrous metallic mining, poses unique challenges to the natural environment because of the threat of acid rock drainage. When sulfide-based rock materials surrounding the desired ore are disturbed and allowed to interact with air and water, sulfuric acid is produced, which poses serious dangers to surface and groundwater. Some of the worst environmental mining disasters have been caused by this phenomenon, though industry experts contend modern technological treatments and retaining structures significantly reduce this threat.

At the first work group meeting, members were briefed on and discussed current Michigan laws, rules and requirements, as well as related regulations and rules in use in other states. The group decided to limit itself to regulation of sulfide mining and would not attempt to address other ongoing activities such as salt and gravel mining. "We're looking at new operations," said Pruss, "particularly sulfide mining."

The second work group meeting took place on March 21, again in St. Ignace, where participants examined new proposed statute language and began to work through specific issues and revisions. The work group sessions are open to comments from citizens and residents at the end of each meeting.

Both the DEQ and DNR work groups are due to report recommendations by the end of summer.