To the editor:
It seems that, in their haste to push the permits through in the absence of a director for the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Kennecott conveniently forgot several factors which will eventually render the permits void.
1. Mining experts for the NWF and for the DEQ agreed that the February 2006 application was not acceptable.
If you have trouble believing that just read the one-page Executive Summary of Sainsbury's report, which was suppressed by the DEQ, and has now been restored to their site, but has subsequently been ignored.
The application should have been rejected almost four years ago.
2. The "Mining Team" at the DEQ is not qualified to evaluate a technical mining application, having no applicable expertise or experience. They admitted as much in court. All permits granted should therefore be revoked. We could test their level of expertise in public if that would please them. A full hour on TV?
3. The Team admitted no familiarity with the law as it pertains to applications for a permit to mine, and
illustrated that point by not requiring the applicant to actually demonstrate that their planned activities would perform as claimed. The pertinent Part 632 is available on the DEQ site and it is not very difficult to read and understand. They should have done that.
So don't get excited yet. Don't start your engines. And don't harm a single tree in sight of Eagle Rock, the place of worship - which is protected by the law.
Thank you for your attention.
Jack Parker
Baltic