Saving the Porkies: A Canadian Company’s Threat to Michigan’s Porcupine Mountains
Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, affectionately known as the “Porkies,” is Michigan’s largest state park, encompassing over 59,000 acres of old-growth forests, waterfalls, and diverse wildlife. This natural haven offers visitors a chance to experience unspoiled wilderness and is a significant contributor to Michigan’s outdoor recreation economy, which generates over $12 billion annually.
However, this pristine environment faces a looming threat from the proposed Copperwood Mine project. A Canadian company plans to establish a metallic sulfide mine adjacent to and potentially beneath the park, extracting copper ore with a grade of only 1.45%. This means that for every ton of extracted material, a mere 30 pounds would be copper, leaving 1,970 pounds as waste containing toxins like arsenic, cadmium, selenium, lead, and mercury. Alarmingly, over 30 million tons of such waste are slated for storage on downward-sloping terrain leading directly to Lake Superior, the world’s largest freshwater lake by surface area.
The potential environmental repercussions are profound. A model released by the Great Lakes Fish & Wildlife Commission indicates that, in the event of a dam failure, mine waste containing mercury and arsenic could inundate Lake Superior and the Presque Isle River within Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, with some areas experiencing waste depths up to 14 meters. WRKR.COM
Such contamination would devastate aquatic ecosystems, disrupt recreational activities, and compromise the livelihoods of communities dependent on tourism and fishing. Beyond the immediate environmental hazards, the mine’s operations threaten to fragment critical habitats and disrupt the tranquility of the region. The introduction of noise, light, air, and water pollution, coupled with subterranean blasting and increased industrial traffic, would degrade the experience of visitors and pose risks to wildlife. Notably, the North Country Trail, the longest national hiking trail stretching 4,800 miles from North Dakota to Vermont, passes through this area, and its integrity could be compromised.
In response to these threats, the “Protect the Porkies” campaign has emerged, rallying individuals and organizations to oppose the Copperwood Mine project. Advocates emphasize that while mining contributes approximately $1 billion to Michigan’s economy, outdoor recreation brings in over $12 billion annually. Allowing a boom-and-bust industry to endanger a robust and sustainable sector is viewed as a misguided trade-off.
To safeguard this irreplaceable wilderness, concerned citizens are encouraged to take action by signing petitions, contacting legislators, and participating in awareness campaigns. By uniting in defense of the Porkies, we can ensure that future generations inherit a landscape as unspoiled and majestic as it is today.
PLEASE TAKE ACTION – SIGN THE PETITION AT
https://protecttheporkies.com/take-action
Resist the $50 million taxpayer-funded grant
HIGH PRIORITY ACTION!
In 2024, the Michigan Senate Appropriations Committee blocked a $50 million taxpayer-funded grant to the proposed Copperwood Mine, not once but TWICE. This victory was in large part due to our campaign mobilizing tens of thousands of citizen advocates to put pressure on our elected officials and is a tremendous example of People Power in action. But we must remain vigilant: news articles are reporting that the company will continue seeking the grant in 2025.
Please reach out to the members of the Senate Appropriations Committee regarding these two points:
Addresses:
SenSAnthony@senate.michigan.gov
SenSMcCann@senate.michigan.gov
SenJCherry@senate.michigan.gov
SenRBayer@senate.michigan.gov
SenSSantana@senate.michigan.gov
SenJIrwin@senate.michigan.gov
SenKHertel@senate.michigan.gov
SenDCamilleri@senate.michigan.gov
SenVKlinefelt@senate.michigan.gov
SenMMcMorrow@senate.michigan.gov
SenMCavanagh@senate.michigan.gov
SenJBumstead@senate.michigan.gov
SenTAlbert@senate.michigan.gov
SenJDamoose@senate.michigan.gov
SenMHuizenga@senate.michigan.gov
SenROutman@senate.michigan.gov
SenLTheis@senate.michigan.gov
Phone Numbers:
Sarah Anthony (Majority Chair) 517-373-6960
Sean McCann (Majority Vice Chair) 517-373-5100
John Cherry 517-373-0142
Rosemary Bayer 517-373-2417
Sylvia Santana 517-373-0990
Jeff Irwin 517-373-2406
Kevin Hertel 517-373-7315
Darin Camilleri 517-373-7918
Veronica Klinefelt 517-373-7670
Mallory McMorrow 517-373-2523
Mary Cavanagh 517-373-7748
John Bumstead (Minority Vice Chair) 517-373-1635
Thomas Albert 517-373-1734
John Damoose 517-373-2413
Mark Huizenga 517-373-0797
Rick Outman 517-373-3760
Lana Theis 517-373-2420
Talking Points
See the Homepage for inspiration. Even if you are only
saying “thank you,” it is always helpful to reiterate our
arguments. More talking points can be found here.
If the project is to advance, may it do so on its own
two feet along with the rest of us, through the forces of
the free market without the interference of a corporate
welfare handout from our pockets. Why should the
taxpayers bail out a failing foreign company who wants
to ship our copper abroad? This is a message politicians
on both sides of the aisle can get behind. Tell our
elected officials this is a controversial and divisive use of
taxpayer dollars.
Be Creative!
Every single person has unique skills, resources,
and time allowance to commit to this important
cause. As a campaign based in a remote and
scarcely populated area, we will only be successful
if we have the help of many thousands of passionate
individuals.
Please consider contributing by:
- Writing blog posts / videos / your own social media content
- Reaching out to media and request coverage
- Submitting letters to the editor of a local or non-local newspaper•
- Designing and/or distributing flyers and stickers in your neighborhood
- Host a table at a farmers market
- What else? Use your imagination!
- We are just the messenger!
Now that you’ve got the message, what will you do?
DONATE and find more at https://protecttheporkies.com/
