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Chase Ashby
Professor Bev
Composition 300
23 April
Economy or Environment?
INTRODUCTION
Its the year 2040 and we struggle to find fresh air to breath. The fish float belly up rocking back
and forth, lifeless. Children beg their parents to play in the rivers, yet no one has touched the
waters for months. The rivers are polluted, tainted from the years of acid mine drainage. The
once promising land we knew as the U.P. has since left, leaving us with nothing but faint
memories. This may not be the case today, but in ten or twenty years we may see this tale
become our very reality.
Residents and tourists of the Upper Peninsula cherish its many rich waterways, miles of Great
Lakes shoreline, and arguably some of the best trout fishing in the world. The local environment
remained untouched until 1845 when the first copper mines appeared in the Keweenaw
Peninsula. Mines continue to be a big part of the Upper Peninsula's economy, bringing about
billions in economic stimulus. Despite the numerous economic advantages, mining operations
bring about several negative effects on our waterways. As an avid nature enthusiast and resident,
I do not support the Eagle Mines operations in Marquette County. Many believe theyre forced
to choose between our environment and economy. As economists working for Northern
Michigan University, Id be shocked if you didnt choose the economy. What if we could have
both?

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DEFINITION
Acid mine drainage (AMD) is defined as the outflow of acidic water into forests and waterways.
AMD is a naturally occurring process that's susceptible to acceleration through large Earth
disturbances, such as sulfide mining and road construction (Jennings, Neuman, and Blicker). The
amount of sulfides exposed to water and oxygen increases during mining operations, producing
AMD. "Following the oxidation of a sulde mineral, resulting acid products may either be
immediately ushed by water moving over the rock, or if there is no water movement, can
accumulate in rock, where it is later ushed" (Akcil, Kodas).

EFFECTS ON WATER AND FISH

Acid mine drainage has several harmful effects on waterways and their inhabitants. Once the
drainage reaches the rivers its sulfuric acid lowers the pH levels. Lower pH levels results in the
precipitation of iron hydroxide, which forms a reddish-orange blanket in the water. This blanket
covers up the vegetation, prohibiting sunlight from reaching plants. The acid furthermore
weakens the waters natural buffering process. When the buffering system is unable to react
anymore, usually at a pH of 4.2, the water way suddenly becomes acidic and it is too late to
reverse the damage" (Lawhorn). "Direct toxicity of low pH and metals, accumulation of metal
hydroxides on gill surfaces, streambed degradation, reduced egg viability, decreased food
availability, or a metal-contaminated diet have been suggested as potential mechanisms for
reduced or absent fish populations in AMD-affected streams" (Hogsden and Harding). High
metal concentrations clog and stick to the gills of fish, affecting their respiration. When metal

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sediments from AMD coat the streambeds it can prevent spawning and the success of
reproduction (Hogsden and Harding).

ADDRESSING THE OPPOSITION

Proponents of the Eagle Mine focus on the economic stimulus Marquette County will receive.
Between 2011 and 2015, it's estimated that the Eagle Mine will generate $4.3 billion for
Michigan's economy (Eagle Mine: Economic Impact Assessment). $4.0 billion of that is
estimated for Marquette County. There have been 1,500 jobs filled, benefiting the Marquette
County community where the unemployment rate is more than one percent higher than the rest
of the United States. How can I be against these undeniable statistics?
First we must realize Marquette will experience a boom and bust cycle. Let's remind ourselves
what this means. In its seven years of operation the Eagle Mine generate billions of dollars for
the Marquette County community. The now booming economy will attract entrepreneurs to start
new businesses and invest in existing ones. The boom phase begins with positive economic
growth. This sprouts a bull market, rising house prices, wage growth, and low unemployment
(Amadeo). As prices rise, investors are overcome by excitement. This phase will end when we
have too much liquidity in the money supply, leading to inflation (Costs Of Economic
Growth). When the mine closes, suddenly the unemployment rate for Marquette County will
drop and the GDP turns negative, resulting in a recession. This will either force residents to work
for less pay, change state residency, or live off of unemployment until another mine opens in the
area.

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Those supporting the Eagle Mine have failed to consider the permanent consequences the mine
can have on our local industries. The Upper Peninsula is home to more than 1,700 miles of Great
Lakes shoreline, along with a tourist industry that brings in millions. In 2013 the town of
Munising, which only had a population of only 2,327, tourism generated $20 million dollars
(Save the Wild U.P.). In 2010, tourism brought in 17.2 billion dollars in revenue for the state
of Michigan. For the Upper Peninsula, mining and sight-seeing comprise our economy. If the
Eagle Mine fails to control or recognize the issue of AMD, it will reach the Great Lakes. How
much would it cost us, the tax payers, annually to fight the damage? To answer this question
we'll examine a similar case.
In 1964, the Mt Washington Copper Mining Co. inhabited the upper part of the Tsolum River
watershed on Vancouver Island. During its three years of operation there were 360,000 tonnes of
ore and 940,000 tonnes of waste rock removed. The AMD drainage took a serious toll on the fish
populations, they went from 15,000 running Coho to 14 in twenty-three years. The Canadian
government estimated that in 20 years they had spent nearly 60 million dollars in repopulation
and cleanup efforts, and they still claim no progress has been made with repopulation efforts
(Acid Mine Drainage: Mining and Water Pollution Issues). In comparison the Eagle Mine
predicts they will extract 297,103 tonnes of Copper and Nickel in their seven year life span. Not
only will they be extracting an extremely toxic metal, but the AMD will be affecting the Salmon
Trout River, Yellow Dog River, Iron River, Lake Independence, and Lake Superior. It will be
nearly uncontrollable if left without treatment. Is it worth harming the Great Lakes?

THE GREAT LAKES

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Drainage into the Yellow Dog River and Salmon Trout River brings major concern to residents in
the Upper Peninsula. Only twelve miles separate the Yellow Dog River from Lake Superior.
Once the drainage reaches Lakes Superior it will take a predicted 191 years to cycle through,
inevitably dumping into Lake Michigan ("About Our Great Lakes: Great Lakes Basin Facts").
Using data from NOAA I was able to calculate the maximum time it would take for the acid
mine drainage to cycle through all five of the Great Lakes. If we assume if takes the maximum
retention time for each lake, it could only take 320.6 years for all the Great Lakes to be exposed
to this pollution. Why does this matter?
These waters are crucial to their surrounding communities. The sports fishing industry alone
provides 4 billion dollars each year. Along with the Great Lakes supply 40 million people with
drinking water and 56 billion gallons of water a day for municipal, agriculture, and industrial use
("About Our Great Lakes: Great Lakes Basin Facts"). Keeping the Great Lakes free of such
drainage is crucial to keeping booming industries such as shipping, fishing, and tourism alive.

CONCLUSION
Our community was developed through the opening of iron ore and copper mines. This industry
breathed life into an unknown and untouched peninsula. The Empire, Tilden, and new Eagle
Mine alone support over 4,000 workers. However, the opening of the Eagle Mine is nothing
short of major controversy. With concerns over acid mine drainage, youre typically either for the
economy or for the environment. However, weve seen our environment supports industries that
provide Michigan with over 20 billion dollars a year. This is nearly five times the amount the

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Eagle Mine will generate in its seven years of operations. My hope is that you now see that
theres no need to make a choice between environment and economy. In the Upper Peninsula our
environment is our economy. Supporting the environment will preserve our industries, maintain a
stable economy, and allow future generations to indulge in the mystifying majesty of the Great
Lakes and our beloved waterways.