A mineral rush is underway across the upper Great Lakes region. The waters, forests and wildlife of the Lake Superior basin share their homelands with deposits of copper, nickel, gold, uranium and other metals. Within a few miles of Great Lakes shoreline, one mine is already proposed, and exploration is spreading like wildfire, fueled by worldwide demand and increasing metal prices.
The neighboring states of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, as well as the province of Ontario, operate independently of one another when it comes to permitting, regulating, and monitoring prospective mines. And yet water is not constrained by state borders and neither are pollutants. The environmental impacts of sulfide mining in one of these jurisdictions may reach well beyond its border. Federal oversight of permitting and monitoring new mines is severely limited, but sorely needed.
With the recent boom in exploration across the Lake Superior basin, proper oversight has never been more important.
Recognizing the need for consistent review, regulation and enforcement, the National Wildlife Federation undertook an extensive examination of the laws and their implementation in Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Ontario. Specifically, we asked:
Water is the most important natural resource in the Lake Superior basin and the long-term value of fresh water far outstrips that of any mineral or any mine. Sulfide mining is well known for its negative impact on water. This report's analysis and the subsequent recommendations offer proactive steps to protect the water, people, and traditions of the Great Lakes Basin.
Sulfide mining is well known for its negative impact on water. This analysis and the subsequent recommendations offer proactive steps to protect the water, people, and traditions of the Great Lakes Basin.
Sign Up for Updates
A new storymap connects the dots between extreme weather and climate change and illustrates the harm these disasters inflict on communities and wildlife.
Learn More
Take the Clean Earth Challenge and help make the planet a happier, healthier place.
Learn More
A groundbreaking bipartisan bill aims to address the looming wildlife crisis before it's too late, while creating sorely needed jobs.
Read MoreMore than one-third of U.S. fish and wildlife species are at risk of extinction in the coming decades. We're on the ground in seven regions across the country, collaborating with 52 state and territory affiliates to reverse the crisis and ensure wildlife thrive.
PO Box 1583, Merrifield, VA 22116-1583
800.822.9919
Share
