Heritage Coast Development Plans Opposed

Posted by: Kathie Brosemer (kathie) on December 11, 2002 at 11:19:39
from the shoreline-protection dept.

Northwatch sends us this story:

Residents of Michipicoten Bay, just west of Wawa, have formed an organization to fight the development of a traprock mine on the shores of Lake Superior. The old Algoma Central Railway lands have been sold to a U.S. company which intends to strip the 1,000 acre site of soil, vegetation and timber, and then drill, blast and crush the coastal rock into aggregate for shipment by freighter to Michigan for use in highway construction. Superior Aggregates is a subsidiary of the Carlos Companies group of U.S. companies, which includes National Asphalt Products, Inc. (NAPI) a Michigan based company producing a wide variety of asphalts and aggregates. NAPI is an independent affiliate of John Carlo, Inc, one of the largest road construction companies in the U.S. Midwest. Superior Aggregates registered with Industry Canada in July 2000. Full story below.

Michipicoten Bay, 240 kilometres north of Sault Ste Marie and just west of the town of Wawa, is at the mouth of the Michipicoten River. A wonderful place with sand and pebble beaches separated by arms of rounded basalt, local residents describe the river mouth as "arguably one of the most beautiful spots on Lake Superior", and the area as one which is rich in the history of the fur trade, and of First Nations whose presence along the Superior shores goes back thousands of years.

A key issue is the potential for the site to be acid generating. Rock in the area is known to contain sulfides. When air and water meet the sulfides - which naturally occur in many rock formations, and quite likely occur in the rock formations that surround Michipicoten Bay - acid is generated, in a phenomenon known as acid mine drainage. Should the rock at the Harbour site contain sulfides, there is high level of risk of acid run-off into Lake Superior. Nearby Wawa's mines produced ore from rock that was loaded with both sulfide and arsenic, which has left a legacy of arsenic-laden soils and even elevated levels of arsenic in local wild mushrooms. Local residents are concerned that, should the same combination be at play around the Bay, runoff might be not just acidic, but also loaded with arsenic.

Pollution of Lake Superior from sulphur and arsenic is not the only worry. Residents are concerned that great quantities of diesel oil will be poured into deep drill holes before each blast and that some of this fuel will end up in the water table and ultimately in the Lake, along with fuel residues and quite possibly spills from the many thousands of freighters that will load aggregate in Michipicoten Harbour over the anticipated 50 years of operation.

There are also serious concerns about habitat, including the spawning ground of lake trout at the dock where the rock will be loaded. The effects of extreme noise and sound vibrations on fish, birds and shoreline wildlife is unknown. Residents are also concerned about heavy dust generation, and have visited a traprock operation on the north shore of Lake Huron to learn about the operations.

Michipicoten Township Council, apparently swayed by the prospect of the 14 jobs to be created, and by the promise of tonnage payments, has given the green light to the operation, despite the objections of local residents.

Citizens Concerned for Michipicoten Bay believe that the present zoning is inadequate for the project and have hired a Sault Ste Marie lawyer to take the case to provincial court. If the legal case is successful, the Township Council will be required to go through a rezoning process, and the Citizens organization will have gained both time and the right of appeal of any zoning decision to the Ontario Municipal Board. Meanwhile, residents are writing to the Provincial and Federal governments requesting a full environmental assessment.

By Mary Jo Cullen, with notes from Northwatch's files. REPRINT from Northwatch News, Fall 2002. Email Northwatch for entire newsletter.

Note from the editor: An environmental assessment is not required under provincial law because this operation is being proposed for privately owned land, by a privately owned company. A case is being made for a designation under the EA act, on the grounds that this proposed development is on shoreline land in the provincially-designated Great Lakes Heritage Coast. The meaning (if any) of the GLHC designation is at issue, as well as precedent for future environmental assessment designations within the Coast area. We will be watching this development with great interest. Is the Great Lakes Heritage Coast merely a public relations nickname, or does it mean something?


The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for what they say.

other historical information
by GHD Straighteners on 2011-08-06 02:53:12

other historical information to explain why he was will leave uprising base areas. GHD Styler Wu said so, apparently confirmed MAO peng monk there should be no escape behavior and historical data has a problem judgment. Of course, wu and not the words absolutely, MBT at the end of the sentence showed he still have doubts. So it seems, wu this of zhu yuanzhang is MAO zedong, according to instructions to be understanding and need to be changed. In conversation with MAO zedong and read MAO zedong's letter, MBT Shoes wu according to chairman MAO's instructions, began a historical materialism as observed history of methodology of learning. He perused the Lenin country and revolution, the significance of the country know, GHD Iv Styler the meaning of the class; He also read vol. Of marxism, and how China's concrete practice,

http://www.beautyjewelry.org/Necklaces_21_1.htm
by thomas sabo charms on 2011-08-12 21:28:25

We love fashion. We are fascinated by it, we are inspired by it. Every day of our lives.thomas sabo bracelets For us, it is a way of playing with our personality as fashion is not , but changes and develops - just like our personality.This is what our lives are about, this is what our work is about and this is also reflected in our collections.Thomas sabo jewelry Currently, the collections are split into three different areas : jewellery, watches and beauty. The style of our jewellery and watches collections is unique. The topics as diverse as life itself and always cutting-edge.discount vans shoes We always present our creations twice yearly in parallel with the major ready-to-wear shows in Paris, Milan and New York.The individual collections are designed to complement each other and can be combined or added to as desired. As a result of their independent character, all our pieces are perfect for festive events and, of course, are stylish with business outfits or with leisure looks. thomas bracelets They always remain part of your personality - regardless of the occasion.

Louboutin Pumps Black
by Louboutin Pumps Black on 2011-10-27 04:03:00

RELATIONSHIPS can be the KEYS TO SUCCESSYour first needed worthwhile Louboutin Pumps Black romantic relationship starts jointly with your romantic relationship with yourself. can you like yourself? If not, it will challenge onto another people you attract near to you. subsequent is Cheap Christian Louboutin Pumps your romantic relationship jointly with your family. for all those that can not control that then you definitely could Cheap Christian Louboutin Boots have problems relating properly to others. It undoubtedly will in all probability be needed to possess powerful worthwhile associations in business, so make specific your romantic relationship Cheap Christian Louboutin Shoes groundwork is good so it will help your institution romantic relationship efforts. You can certainly not be considered a achievement alone, so be completely specific you give this the thought it demands.

Main Menu:

Site Tools:


Here, spammer, have some addresses.