Stupak Introduces Great Lakes Protection Bill

AP) UPPER PENINSULA, Mich. MARQUETTE, Mich. (AP) -- U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak has introduced a bill designed to protect the Great Lakes from acid mine drainage.

It would prohibit issuing federal permits for a sulfide mine within 5 miles of any of the Great Lakes unless the applicant could demonstrate the operation wouldn't cause leakage of sulfuric acid."If you're going to have this new type mining in Michigan, let's make sure we do it right," Stupak told The Mining Journal for a story Tuesday. "I'm not opposed to it, I just want to make sure we do it right."

Kennecott Minerals Co. has proposed building an underground mine in northern Marquette County. The company's design calls for a diagonal underground shaft about 1,000 feet below the surface to reach an ore body of nickel and copper sulfides.Acid mine drainage occurs when sulfur combines with water and air, forming sulfuric acid, which can drain from the mine into bodies of water. Kennecott officials say they would operate the mine without acid leaks.Stupak said his bill wasn't specifically aimed at the Kennecott project, noting that another sulfide mine is being considered in Menominee County.

The Michigan Legislature enacted a law in 2004 to oversee metallic mining, and the Department of Environmental Quality recently wrote regulations to implement it.