Hull-Rust Mahoning Open Pit Iron Mine near Hibbing, Minnesota; source www.panamorio.com
“Mining Impacts and Lake Superior:
A Basinwide Approach”
Friday, March 23, 2012
AmericInn Conference Center
3009 State Highway 2 East, Ashland, Wisconsin
Through grant funding from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, the Lake Superior Binational Forum offered its first of three open public meetings about the impacts of mining activities in the Lake Superior basin in March 2012.
Over 260 people with diverse perspectives participated in two versions of the meeting:
- 160 people from 120 different communities in Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Ontario attended the meeting in Ashland, Wisconsin.
- Over 100 people from eight states, the District of Washington, and Indonesia watched the presentations through a live webinar broadcast.
These participants reflected a diverse range of stakeholders with regards to mining activities: each participant indicated their sector on our registration forms.
People from 17 different sectors participated, such as: industry, business, tribes, local, state and federal elected officials, faith community, academia, government, media, legal, and non-governmental organizations.
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Dr. Susan Hedman |
The forum was pleased to have Dr. Susan Hedman as the keynote speaker for this meeting.Dr. Hedman, the Administrator of Region 5 for the United States Environmental Protection Agency, discussed the Environmental Protection Agency’s role regarding mining in the Lake Superior basin.Northland College President Michael Miller introduced Dr. Hedman and welcomed her back to Ashland: Dr. Hedman taught environmental policy as a faculty member at the college in the 1980s.Watch Speech (Video courtesy of Steve Zieverink, of The Hypha Film Project)Listen to Interview with Nikos Pastos |
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Welcome |
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Chairman Mike Wiggins, Jr., |
Chairman Mike Wiggins, Jr. made opening remarks at the meeting. The Lake Superior Binational Forum was pleased to have City of Ashland Mayor Bill Whalen welcome guests to Ashland. Watch Speech (Video courtesy of Steve Zieverink, of The Hypha Film Project) |
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Mayor Bill Whalen |
The Lake Superior Binational Forum was pleased to have City of Ashland Mayor Bill Whalen welcome guests to Ashland. |
| Lakewide Management Plan and Mining Impacts | |||
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Lynelle Hanson, The Lake Superior Binational Forum was pleased to have Lynelle Hanson speak about “Lake Superior Binational Program and the Lakewide Management Plan.” |
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| Chemical Discharges and Mining Impacts | |||
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Nancy Larson, The Lake Superior Binational Forum was pleased to have Nancy Larson present “Zero Discharge Demonstration Program and Mining Impacts.” View Powerpoint Handout (.pdf) |
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| Historical Environmental Impacts | |||
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Mike Ripley, The Lake Superior Binational Forum was pleased to have Mike Ripley present “Historical Impacts of Ferrous Mining in the Lake Superior Basin.” View Powerpoint of Handout (.pdf) |
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| Sovereign Nations and Mining Impacts | |||
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Ann McCammon-Soltis, Director of Division of Intergovernmental Affairs, The Lake Superior Binational Forum was pleased to have Ann McCammon-Soltis present “Tribal Roles in Environmental Review and Mining Permitting: A US Perspective.” View Powerpoint Handout (.pdf) |
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| Economic Costs and Benefits | |||
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Dr. Tom Powers, The Lake Superior Binational Forum was pleased to have Dr. Tom Powers present “Thinking about the Costs & Benefits of Mining: A Holistic Approach.” |
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| Thank You! | |||
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Our thanks to the staff at WOJB Community Woodland Radio, Hayward, Wisconsin, for broadcasting the webinar in its entirety live on the radio and through its web site. The station is owned and operated by the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. |
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Questions and Comments
Lissa Radke, U.S. Coordinator, Lake Superior Binational Forum, Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute at Northland College, 1411 Ellis Ave., Ashland WI 54806, (715) 682-1489
