MARQUETTE –Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Co. withdrew its wetlands permit application on behalf of its Tilden Mine expansion project as of June 20 due to concerns from the public as well as the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.

EGLE recommended the withdrawal due to unresolved concerns about tribal coordination and cumulative impacts on the Escanaba River watershed.

In addition to individuals, local environmental groups including Citizens for a Safe & Clean Lake Superior and the Mining Action Group of the U.P. Environmental Coalition spoke out against the permit application.

Over 500 public comments were submitted by the feedback deadline on March 9. Concerns pertained to inadequate consideration of impact areas including insufficient biological surveys to determine the presence of protected animal species.

Other major concerns included the large cumulative impact of recent wetland permits requested and received by CCI, totaling 144.2 acres of wetlands in the past five years, in addition to thousands of acres of mine-impacted lands in Marquette County.

Also of concern was the quality and watershed impacts to the proposed mitigation sites.

CSCLS Director Jane Fitkin said this news presents “a significant win for the power of public participation.”In a press release, CSCLS officials expressed that wetlands are crucial to the overall water quality and watershed health, as they filter pollutants and excess nutrients, provide critical habitats for diverse native flora and fauna, and lessen the impacts of flooding and erosion due to their ability to hold large amounts of water.CCI is expected to submit a new application for the expansion of the waste rock stockpiles at the Tilden Mine. With regulated ecosystem impacts, there would be a public notice period and concerned citizens will need to request another public hearing.

To that, Fitkin said, “We, and our community, are ready to respond if Tilden’s next permit application includes major wetland impacts.”