Writer responds to previous letter about the environment
January 20, 2020
Eagle Herald
Dear Editor,
This letter is in response to Dale Anderson’s letter of last week.
Although he believes our environment was not a concern in the past like it is today, let’s look at history: Years ago, the only fertilizer applied to crop fields was cow manure, which was totally biodegradable. Then came commercial fertilizers, intended to increase crop yields. Next were chemical herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, insecticides, broadleaf sprays — including Round-Up which is now listed as a carcinogen — all formulated toward higher crop yields. When crops are sprayed with chemicals, they are assimilated by the plant and also absorbed into the ground; however, some are washed into creeks, rivers and into our water supplies. The scientific community was not aware of the pollution then, but now we all know.
Mr. Anderson talks about local people investing in the Back Forty Mine project. Did they fall for the “get rich quick” theory? I would guess that everyone who invested their family’s money would be happy to get a return on their investment — at least what they paid for their stock. I am sure they wouldn’t sell it for the $0.12 a share that is now posted on the exchange. Or could this be a huge Barry Hildred “Ponzi Scheme”?
The fight to stop the mine is far from over. The permits that were issued are not effective; they contain multiple conditions that would have to be met before any construction could begin. Two of the permits are tied up in federal and state courts. Aquila pulled its Dam Safety Permit application in 2019, and this will restart the dam safety permit review process from the beginning, including new opportunities for public review and comment. Aquila will not be able to begin mine construction until EGLE has approved all permits for the project.
Note that the upstream method proposed by Aquila for its tailings dam has failed repeatedly worldwide — causing widespread pollution, destruction and loss of life — and there has never been a metallic sulfide mine that has not polluted the waters and the environment. Do your research.
The Menominee River hosts one of the best smallmouth bass fisheries in the world; do you want to destroy that? The Menominee River is also a classic breeding ground for pre-historic sturgeon. Do you want to destroy them too?
The solution to controlling toxic waste is not to create it in the first place. The opposition will fight until the Canadians go home.
Lea Jane Burie
Wausaukee