MCWC Letter to Cadillac News

The company’s latest press release (11/26 Cadillac News article, “Truly Shovel-Ready”) followed the routine re-issuance of an expired air-emissions permit by Michigan’s Dept. of Energy, Great Lakes, and Environment (EGLE). Members of Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation (MCWC), lodged a number of objections to the draft permit, prompting significant changes. [MCWC continues to take issue with provisions allowing the release of deadly hydrogen-sulfide gas.]

On numerous occasions over the past 6 years, Michigan Potash has pronounced their project to be “shovel-ready” with groundbreaking imminent. Usually, as now, they state that they are “finalizing” their financing (totaling approximately a billion dollars).

But what does Michigan Potash mean by “Shovel-Ready”?

• Does it mean that MPSC has assessed drainage patterns on and around their property and identified possible avenues to widespread contamination of ground and surface waters from unintended releases of hot, concentrated brine solutions? If that’s a part of being “shovel-ready”, then they are not.
• Does it mean that MPSC knows what lies beneath their site thru soil-borings and analysis, shallow aquifer identification and location, groundwater flow mapping, etc.? If that’s a part of being “shovel-ready”, then they are not.
• Does it mean that MPSC has performed sustained pumping tests to determine whether the local aquifer can meet their extraordinary water demands without destruction of local wells and of the aquifer itself? If that’s a part of being “shovel-ready”, then they are not.
• Does it mean that MPSC has cooperated with the Osceola County Planning Commission in its efforts to predict and prepare for the impacts which a large mining operation will have on the area?1 If that’s a part of being “shovel- ready”, then they are not.

It is not entirely Michigan Potash’s fault that they have neglected to do so much of what should be required of a company attempting to start a billion-dollar solution-mine. Michigan’s DEQ (now EGLE) has fallen far short on its duty to vigorously enforce provisions of Michigan’s Environmental Protection Act (MEPA) which were intended to minimize damage to the environment. Instead of requiring a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to study, test, evaluate, and compensate for the limitations of a deeply flawed site, EGLE merely required a 4-page, fill-in-the-blanks questionnaire (partially filled out) to which the company was allowed to attach hundreds of pages copied from a bonafide EIA prepared by PPG industries 40 years ago. Since the old PPG site is situated upon dramatically different terrain, most of that material is irrelevant.

Since the testing and studies necessary to comply with the letter and spirit of MEPA are both time-consuming and costly, EGLE appears to have done Michigan Potash a great favor by allowing this substitution. In truth, they did the company a tremendous disservice. MEPA’s environmental review process, when fully carried out, provides a rigorous framework whereby a company can confidently say to all stakeholders that they have done their best to ensure the long-term viability of their venture. This process is especially valuable for small companies which have never engaged in mining before. It is MCWC’s contention that Michigan Potash should not even think about breaking ground until they have done the work needed to establish that their site is safe.

For almost four years, the Osceola County Planning Commission has repeatedly requested that Michigan Potash appear and answer questions regarding their plans, but the company has stalled and ultimately ignored these reasonable requests. Meanwhile, intense pressure has been brought to bear on the Commission to curtail its inquiries. Whenever a local unit of government, tasked with forecasting and adapting to future growth and change is actively hindered in its efforts, red flags should be raised!

Note: This letter was never printed by the Cadillac news