2004 House Bill 6243 ↩

Senate Roll Call 900: Passed

To authorize and provide regulations for a new copper, nickel and other mineral mine in Marquette County. The bill would include extensive disclosure, oversight, public input, and land reclamation provisions. At least two companies have discovered large deposits of nickel, copper and other useful minerals which are bound up in rock formations containing sulfur in the Upper Peninsula. The sulfide mining process to separate them requires careful precautions to avoid water pollution. The bill would require mining companies to post performance bonds, and to monitor the sites for at least 20 years after the mine is closed. It would require permits to be issued if it is determined that a proposed mining operation will not pollute, impair, or destroy the air, water, or other natural resources.