Reclamation plans not next logical step

To the Editor:

The Iron County Mining Impact Committee asked for the public and students to submit reclamation plans for the proposed G-Tac mine.

No public comment is allowed, but some plans will be chosen and the committee will ask the authors questions regarding their submissions. But, the Iron County Board has signed a lease for that land which specifically states they will not interfere with mining, beneficiation (taconite processing) or reclamation plans.

Some board members who signed this are on the impact committee. They discuss reclamation plans of waterfalls coming down waste piles, peregrine falcons roosting on cliffs, elk habitat, campgrounds, a prison, beaches, ATV trails and bike baths and shooting ranges. G-Tac representatives attend most impact meetings and know these things.

Bill Williams of G-Tac reported at the last meeting that studies for the mine are not complete and their work is on hold. They found more wetlands than shown on the DNR map of the area, so they are reviewing plans and delaying applying for a permit.

Larry Lynch of the DNR told the audience in Oma at the Citizens Forum that the DNR does not have access to G-Tac’s wetlands map. Without a mine plan and completed studies, how can we be expected to come up with a reclamation plan and for what purpose?

A government-appointed committee is soliciting ideas for reclamation. It gives the public the impression that there will be a mine and that our opinions matter, but they don’t allow public comment.

Will students or the public pick up on the irony? Students trust authority figures. Stick to the facts and give them options. Have them study the lease and ask what they think. Teach them why popular reclamation ideas might not be feasible, show them how to search out information from the DNR, which has estimated that, should the mine continue, a permit could take between two and 10 years. Encourage them to find out how long it would likely operate. Then give students a choice to come up with a plan to improve our community now or to create a reclamation plan based on facts.

Maureen Matusewic

Hurley