What should be done to preserve the great lakes

Mining companies are seeking—and finding—deposits of minerals including copper, nickel, gold and other metals. This mining rush must be checked to protect Lake Superior and it's tributaries.

In addition to state agencies, the U. Environmental Protection Agency must step-up its oversight and protect the Great Lakes from the exceptional risks of sulfide mining. The threat of sulfide mining looms across the Upper Peninsula's backwoods. The proposed Copperwood Mine beside the Porcupine State Park plans to leave a huge mine waste tailings pond just feet away from Lake Superior and its tributaries, yet the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has issued preliminary approval.

Rio Tinto has started constructing its Eagle Mine in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where it will seriously harm wildlife and natural areas in the Great Lakes basin. Watch our award-winning documentary film, " Mining Madness, Water Wars: Great Lakes in the Balance " to see the story of people and wildlife in the Lake Superior basin under threat from the Rio Tinto mine. The Eagle Mine was the first test of new Michigan laws governing sulfide mining, and so far, the State of Michigan has failed.

Despite voluminous expert testimony stating the danger of the sulfide mine to people, wildlife and natural areas, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources issued Kennecott Eagle Minerals permits in to perform sulfide mining on the public lands National Wildlife Federation and its partners now await a decision from the Michigan Court of Appeals where they have sought leave to appeal.

In Minnesota, several mines are on the drawing board with one huge open pit mine, the NorthMet Mine, having proceeded through a significant portion of the permitting process. Like Wisconsin, the mining industry in Minnesota is lobbying continually for more industry-friendly laws. The history of sulfide mining is rife with contamination, Harmful acid mine drainage is an inescapable byproduct of sulfide mining and results in miles of decimated streams and rivers.

The Great Lakes region must carefully protect its most precious resource, fresh water. We hope you will join and support our efforts. Science Explorer. Multimedia Gallery. Park Passes. Technical Announcements. Employees in the News. This strategy details plans for addressing Lake Michigan's and Lake Superior's most pressing environmental issues. These issues include:. Managing this vast ecosystem requires an extraordinary effort at international, national, regional, local, community and individual levels.

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