Does responsible mining in the US need some kind of "Great Lakes Compact?"

As of this writing, we are aware of increased concerns about proposed "hard rock" mining projects in the states of Minnesota, Michigan, Montana, Wisconsin, and Alaska. We have, for some time, been writing about emerging or operational systems that provide third party certification and/or audited assessments of mining site compliance with those systems. Some of the systems we've seen also involve determination of go / no go areas where mining might be determined totally inappropriate.

St. Louis River at Lake Superior, under threat

Photo by J. Harrington

We note that mining produces commodities for the global market, thereby allowing global mining companies to play off one potential location against another. What we have read thus far leads us to believe that, for the most part, those in the states listed above, who would protect their lands and waters from the devastation that has traditionally and historically been delivered by mining exploration and operation, have largely been fighting their good fights alone, without the benefits of a broader base and strategy.

We note that the National Rifle Association (NRA) fights for "gun rights" on a national scale. The Sierra Club, Trout Unlimited, Ducks Unlimited and other "environmental" groups rely on local chapters at the state and/or substate level for effective presence throughout the country. We know that several of the state level chapters of the Sierra Club have opposed a number of mining proposals in environmentally sensitive areas. We know that there are several organizations that have coalitions to oppose mining and protect land an water resources, e.g., Save the Boundary Waters, Duluth for Clean Water, UPEC Mining Action Group (in Michigan), Save Lake Superior Association, plus others including several Native American tribes or bands. We haven't come across any indication of a coalition or umbrella organization. Perhaps such exists and we simply aren't aware of it. That would be a pleasant surprise.

Boundary Waters Canoe Area, under threat

Photo by J. Harrington

Coming from Massachusetts, one of the original colonies, we are particularly sensitive to the saying by Benjamin Franklin, "We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately."

The Great Lakes Compact is focused on "how the States will work together to manage and protect the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin. It also provides a framework for each State to enact programs and laws protecting the Basin." Couldn't the organizations working to protect their environments and natural resources from the downsides of mining benefit fro a similar approach? If this has been tried and failed, we remind everyone of Samuel Beckett's assessment: "Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better." Once the Aral Sea was the 4th largest freshwater body in the world. Is it now? Was the change due to "extractive industries" similar to mining?

Using Each Other

by Ehsan Sehgal

The natural seasons
The spring, summer
Autumn, winter
The terms of seasons
Love, affection, friendship
Birth and death
And further
As the natural instinct
That continues
Within its system
Philosophy, and mysterious,
The description is that
Every subject or term
And everyone
Depend on each other,
Using each other 

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