Public Agencies Lobby for Wilderness Road

Article from Headwaters News, by Catherine Parker, on Rio Tinto’s planned haul road for its Eagle Mine:

Rio Tinto, through its subsidiary Kennecott Minerals, continues to dodge requirements of Michigan’s Part 632 Mining Law, with the help of the Marquette County Road Commission (MCRC), the Marquette County and City Commissions, and local township boards.

County Should Get Serious About Addressing Public Concerns With Haul Road

A great letter to the editor from Thomas Polkinghorne, from Champion, MI:

I take exception to County Board Chairman Gerald Corkin’s comments reported in The Mining Journal on Oct. 19. Corkin stated opponents “later opposed the Woodland Road, designed as an alternative. Now they oppose the alternative to the alternative.”

Corkin wants us to believe people opposed everything. The fact is, the “alternative” is nearly a twin to the original Woodland Road.

In addition, no evidence was given by the road commission that they considered any other route. A thinking, functioning board would have displayed all of the proposed routes and discussed with the public the pros and cons of each.

Marquette County Road Commission Lobbies for Rio Tinto’s Road Plan

The Marquette County Road Commission is lobbying local units of government to support a new haul road plan for Rio Tinto’s mining operations.

At yesterday’s Road Commission meeting,  Jim Iwanicki said he “recieved a request” to push for a new haul road plan and recieved letters of support for the plan from the Marquette City Commission, the Marquette County Board of Commissioners and several local township boards.

County Board Takes Another Shot at Helping Kennecott Build Road

An article in the local newspaper outlines the county’s plan to help Kennecott build its new haul road and reiterates the claim that the road would benefit the public through better recreation:

With the Woodland Road project shelved over federal objections, the Marquette County Board voted unanimous support Tuesday for a new alternative.

“It’s kind of a collaboration between the road commission, the county and the townships,” said Commissioner Deborah Pellow of Ishpeming. “It’s kind of a joint effort to move forward the Woodland Road.”

The county board is asking the Marquette County Road Commission to develop a new all-season primary county road to run north 22 miles from U.S. 41 to Marquette County Road IAA.

Rio Tinto Shelves Woodland Road Plan

It was supported by the City of Marquette, Marquette Township and the Marquette County Board who lobbied the Environmental Protection Agency to allow the haul road even though it didn’t follow the law.  Now, Rio Tinto has pulled its permit application for the Woodland Road and says it will redo the plan.  Click  below to read their withdrawal letter. . .

Rio Tinto (“Woodland Road LLC”) Withdraws Permit Application for Mining Haul Road

Video: Marquette City Commission Supports Woodland Road

Video: Public Hearing on Woodland Road