U.P. Road Commission Taking On EPA

Michigan Capitol Confidential ^ | 7/20/2015 | Jack Spencer

[MichCapCon]

The Marquette County Road Commission announced that it has filed a lawsuit formally challenging a decision by the federal Environmental Protection Agency to block construction of a county road (CR 595) that would shorten the route between a new minerals mine and a processing facility. The suit was filed July 10 in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan.

“The EPA, in its objection to the construction of County Road 595, has once again overstepped its bounds and demonstrated its politically motivated agenda,” said Sen. Tom Casperson, R-Escanaba. “The agency, without reason or merit, has hamstrung the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality from issuing a wetlands permit for County Road 595 simply because it did not fit the agency’s agenda."

“Instead of doing its job and approving the project, the EPA has instead opted for political theater,” Casperson continued. “By blocking County Road 595’s construction, the EPA is doing nothing to improve the access of emergency, commercial, industrial, and recreational vehicles to a key area of northwest Marquette County. From elected officials at the state and local levels, to job providers and labor organizations, to conservationists, public safety officials and the general public, nearly everyone agrees County Road 595 would improve the way of life of county residents."

County Road 595 is a proposed 21-mile road that would connect the Eagle Mine with its ore processing facility at the Humboldt Mill. The new road would shorten the round trip between the mine and the mill by 78 miles. Supporters of the project point out that the road would divert nearly 100 commercial vehicles per day from local roads, including those near schools.

Those opposed to the EPA’s decision claim the road would increase traffic safety by eliminating more than 1.5 million miles of semi-truck traffic from local communities and school zones annually and cut fuel consumption by more than 464,000 gallons each year.

“We believe our position that they did not follow the law will be upheld and we will be given a chance to build a very important road for Marquette County,” Jim Iwanicki, engineer manager of the Marquette County Road Commission, told reporters.

Earlier this year the Michigan Legislature gave its bipartisan support to the Marquette County Road Commission in the dispute. Senate Resolution 9, sponsored by Casperson, and House Resolution 13, sponsored by Rep. John Kivela, D-Marquette, backed the road commission. Each resolution was passed by its respective chamber.

“I applaud the road commission for moving forward with this lawsuit,” Kivela said. “Building of County Road 595 is sensible from so many perspectives, including that of public safety, the environment and the economy, and supported by an overwhelming group of interests, individuals, stakeholders and elected leaders, including all the U.P. legislators, U.S. Congressman Dan Benishek, R-Michigan, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan and retired U.S. Senator Carl Levin.”

Casperson gave a heads-up about the upcoming County Road 595 lawsuit with comments he made in an article last month about the EPA wanting a study on the potentially harmful effects of barbecues and grills.

The policy and legal environment that made the Eagle Mine possible was put into place by a 2004 law signed by then-Gov. Jennifer Granholm after being passed with no opposing votes in the House or Senate. It was the product of a consensus between the Democratic governor, environmentalist groups, mining companies, and local officials. Within a short time, however, state environmental groups were taking actions to obstruct the mine. In the past the Marquette Mining Journal reported remarks from Casperson that the EPA has an "agenda" about the mine, not the road.

[BuffaloJack]

What does U.P stand for?

[prisoner6]

There are ROADS in Yupperland? In Winter? Who Knew?

[cripplecreek]

Upper Peninsula. (Michigan)

[brivette]

upper peninsula.

[MeganC]

Michigan should ignore the EPA and go ahead and build the road. If Obama can pick and choose the laws he wants to obey then so can everyone else!!!

[cripplecreek]

May be of interest. The EPA seems to be trying to use a back door to stand in the way of mining operations.



Michigan legislative action thread

[Quality_Not_Quantity]

There are ROADS in Yupperland? In Winter? Who Knew?

Actually, you end up driving on pard-packed snow covered by a layer of what is referred to as 'stamp sand.'

Back in the heyday of the copper mining industry in the Keweenaw Penninsula (the rabbit's ear, for those in the know), they ran the ore through a stamping plant to separate the copper. What was left was this coarse black sand.

Lots and lots of coarse black sand, probably millions of cubic yards of it all over the place.

[MeshugeMikey]

Kick the muslime ballerina and his lackeys at the EPA...to the side of the road .......and get on with it!!

[cripplecreek]

It was the product of a consensus between the Democratic governor, environmentalist groups, mining companies, and local officials. Within a short time, however, state environmental groups were taking actions to obstruct the mine. In the past the Marquette Mining Journal reported remarks from Casperson that the EPA has an "agenda" about the mine, not the road.

All too typical of environmental groups. They support something that causes industry to spend money, then oppose it actually doing any business. Its kind of like their past support of clean coal which they now oppose.

Lawfare at its worst.

[prisoner6]

Actually, you end up driving on pard-packed snow covered by a layer of what is referred to as ‘stamp sand.’

Very interesting! I didn’t know that.

I’m sure you know The Yoopers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50IgzksUqpQ

FWIW we have similar problems here in Western PA. Not the deep snow so much but the salt and socialist PennDot crews.

Can you send us some of that Stamp Sand?

Probably illegal....

[PGalt]

Thanks for the ping; post; thread. Interesting.

(LOL! I’d never heard the Rusty Chevrolet song)

[ComputerGuy]

I’m sure the EPA has a SWAT team. Y’all be careful.

[Hot Tabasco]

The EPA has exceeded its usefulness and I would support any questions leveled to our current crop of presidential hopefuls if they would support the total defunding and elimination of that tyrannical arm of the government.......

Any candidate willing to support the elimination of the EPA would definitely get my attention........

[cyclotic]

UP is a short way of saying God’s Country

[Mariner]

Soon, no Federal Officer or Federal Employee will be able to enter the woods without a column of APC,s

And those are known to be prone to tragic accidents in the woods.

[Peter Libra]

One of my earliest memories of exploring the UP came over fifty years ago. I live opposite the UP just across the St Mary's River in Canada. I decided to explore the tiny community of Gay Michigan, as I drove around the Copper Country.

There was the black sand from the mill. A small fortune was made by the entrepreneurs who discovered even more copper could be extracted. This from the discarded heaps of tailings. This you will know.

I smiled as I posed by the sign of the communities only bar. It read "The Gay Bar". I went in with my wife to quaff an ale. The last place on earth any one would expect to find any one who would be called "gay". I did not find, nor did I look for any "gays". I and sipped my beer and felt, though a stranger quite at ease.

Google has the same sign and also the school house preserved in time. I plan one last look at the Copper Country in August. My daughter will be driving myself and my wife of 54 years married. She was about six years old when she was with me on our trip, many years ago.

Excuse this ramble.

[Peter Libra]

Whoops! I read the above to my wife and she told me to explain that my daughter was six years old. This when we explored the Copper Country.

[MarMema]

Thanks for sharing your lovely story.

[clearcarbon]

"The Gay Bar."

Gun museum.