Today we received disappointing news that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency did not agree that Kennecott Eagle Minerals needed a federal permit for discharge of wastewater into groundwater. YDWP disagrees, as the original design was changed slightly from underground piping to above ground piping by the company to get around the permit requirement. The potential effects remain the same and the company should be held to a higher standard.

“Very disappointing is all I can say,” says Emily Whittaker, Director of the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve, “Regardless, our group will continue with our mission, mine or not, and that is to protect this river from harm.” According to environmental consultants hired by Kennecott, the groundwater flow located near the discharge indicates potential effects for the Salmon-Trout only. But a third party hydrogeological survey was never conducted and the flow model is based on only three field seasons of data. ” I truly believe the adjacent watershed’s aquifers, that of the Yellow Dog River, could be in jeopardy. But data is limited. We will continue to collect as much water quality information as possible to best safeguard our water,” says Whittaker.

Below is the correspondence between the U.S. EPA and Kennecott Eagle Minerals. Please read through the letter, as well as the comments from the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community regarding the UIC permit located at the link below.

http://www.epa.gov/r5water/uic/kennecott/kennecott_correspondence.htm

EPA-_KEMC_UIC_Letter_070110