FAQ
We’re glad you have questions, and we’ve posted answers to some of the most common ones here.
What is sulfide mining and why does it pose a threat to water?
Sulfide mining differs greatly from the oxide rock mining that has historically been done in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. When mining activities expose sulfide bearing rock to air and water it decomposes releasing among other chemicals, sulfuric acid which causes acid mine drainage and heavy metal acid rain. In short, sulfide mining and water don’t mix it is a time bomb especially in a water rich environment like Michigan. Acid mine drainage percolates through the groundwater and can cause irreparable damage decades after the mines have played out and closed and the nearby towns have become ghost towns. Sulfide mines dating back to Roman times are still leaking acid drainage some 2000 years later. The sulfide bearing rock ore body being explored runs from Northern Minnesota, to Wisconsin to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and down into the tip of Michigan’s mitten. In fact mining companies have been buying up the mineral rights for thousands of acres of land in Michigan and the Upper Great Lakes. Mining engineers say dozens of mine sites could be opened, exploited and closed all within the next decade. History and science show that sulfide mines almost always pollute both acid mine drainage and heavy metal acid rain that is devastating to fresh water, fish, aquatic life and surrounding plant and wildlife. In fact sulfide mining kills rivers, lakes, streams and ponds — virtually any water into which it seeps.
If this isn’t happening near me why should I care?
The Great Lakes are a connected and interdependent water system. What happens to one Great Lake invariably impacts all the Great Lakes. In a world thirsting for fresh water, we have a responsibility to protect the world’s largest fresh water reservoir. It’s all our drinking water and the heavy metal acid rain caused by sulfide mining and processing can spread the environmental damage hundreds of miles from the mining and processing sites.
Why should people outside of Michigan care about this issue?
Water especially fresh water is more valuable than gold in a world facing climate change. The Great Lakes are the biggest single source of fresh water in world containing 20 percent of the world’s and 80 percent of North America’s fresh water. In addition, the Great Lakes support a diversity of aquatic, plant, and wildlife as well as provide both a living and a quality of life to millions of people. We have all learned that the world is a small place and that what happens to the rain forests of the Amazon invariably impact life at home. The same is true of the Great Lakes.
Michigan has been hurting economically. What is the impact of stopping this type of mining?Are there any jobs at stake?
The proposed sulfide mines and processing operation support few jobs overall and fewer still will go to local workers. Most of the jobs created by the mines are temporary at best and will go to specialized workers imported from South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Also it is clear mining giants like Rio Tinto are fast moving away from using human miners at all and moving toward automated, robotic mining techniques. At the same time, one of the fastest growing jobs sectors in Michigan is in alternative and sustainable energy which relies on clean, fresh water sources. In addition, recreation and tourism is Michigan’s third largest economic sector and the potential devastation by this type of mining could have a severe adverse economic impact on this important and growing sector that was the inspiration behind the award-winning Pure Michigan spots. In fact ,with the growth of areas such as wind energy including manufacturing wind turbines here in Michigan, it could be argued that the adverse environment impact of sulfide mining could cost many more jobs than the very limited, temporary direct jobs supported by the mining activity.
What is a ballot initiative campaign?
A ballot initiative is a right given to citizens under Michigan’s Constitution to draft and pass legislation directly. It is a powerful tool. Opponents can do little to keep a Secretary of State approved, properly formatted and circulated petition off the ballot. Any measure that obtains enough valid signatures in numbers equal to or exceeding 8 percent of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election is guaranteed a spot on the ballot. Giving ourselves wriggle room, we will gather at least 400,000 signatures. Signatures must be circulated and signed by qualified voters within their county of residence. All signatures turned into the Secretary of State’s office must have been gathered within the same 180 day period. To secure a spot on the 2010 general election ballot, the petitions must be turned in by May 2010. In broad terms a ballot initiative campaign costs approximately $1.50 to $3 per signature to get on the ballot. It is important to be early because the ballot campaign that gets its signatures certified first by the Secretary of State’s office gets the top and most desirable spot on the ballot. In rare cases, the legislature will vote to approve a ballot measure prior to the general election. If the legislature takes no action, it goes to the ballot and if passed only a three-fourths majority vote in the state legislature can overturn it.
Who can support a ballot initiative and how much and how often can someone give to this cause?
There are no limits to how much money you can give and few on who can give (no anonymous and no foreign national donations) to a ballot initiative campaign in Michigan. Churches, non-profits, corporations, foundations, schools, clubs, and individuals can all give to ballot measures. We must attract the broadest base of donors possible from a school child’s $5 to a millionaire’s or foundation’s hundreds of thousands.
Don’t we already have too many single issue or environmental groups competing against each other for support?
There are many great groups working to protect the environment, promote conservation, outdoor and recreational activities, clean water and air and support plant and wildlife. And, yes many are all chasing very tight and limited dollars in this difficult economy. That said MiWater, with its focus on protecting Michigan and Great Lakes water from the adverse impact of sulfide and uranium mining, provides a unifying issue and rallying cry. Not since the 1976 Bottle Bill has Michigan had a conservation issue with the ability to pull so many diverse people and groups together in the common battle to protect our water. Like all political campaigns we are temporary. Once our work is done protecting Michigan’s water and legacy as the Great Lakes State by passing this ballot measure, we go away. But we think we will leave our state, our water and our collaborators in better shape than when we started.
Who are we up against?
This is a classic David versus Goliath fight. The mining interests are deep pocketed, well-organized and global. They are motivated by very rich ore body deposits and world demand for nickel, zinc, lead, copper and uranium. They will try to frame the fight on their terms – much needed jobs, free market, mineral rights and world demand for strategic minerals. They will try to make the case that their methods are so advanced that any potential environmental hazard has been covered. They will point to so called success stories. They will label opponents as tree huggers, radical environmentalists, naïve do-gooders or rich people trying to protect their second homes. Right now the same markets that have taken a toll on our jobs and investments have also hit the commodities markets. So while the mining companies have slowed down waiting for the economic rebound, we have a window of opportunity. They will out spend us as much as 7-1. To win we must make this a broad-based, grassroots coalition of all of us who realize that the biggest treasure in Michigan is not in the ground but in our water.
