EDITOR:

A public hearing has been announced by the Mineral Leasing Division of the State of Michigan for 6 to 8 p.m. Central time Wednesday Sept. 1, at Menominee County Michigan State University Extension Offices, S904 U.S. 41 in Stephenson.

Great Lakes Exploration, owned by Tom Quigley, has submitted an application for exclusive rights to explore “1,609 acres, more or less” for the presence of metallic minerals.

If this application is approved, all landowners will again be subjected to massive drilling of test holes on state land to determine the viability of sulfide mining.

Let us learn from history: Tom Quigley performed the test drilling on the Aquila properties, which to this day have not been properly abandoned and sealed, creating potential contamination sites for underlying water aquifers.

When Mr. Quigley brought in Aquila Resources, they proceeded to sell their stock to area residents, promising huge profits, financial gains for businesses and schools, and temporary jobs. They continued to pull millions of dollars out of this region from residents’ pockets, savings and retirement accounts. Last Friday, Aquila stock price was 5 cents a share.

If Great Lakes Exploration is granted this mineral lease from the state, it will be a precursor of more of the same rhetoric and history will repeat itself.

Please let your voice be heard. Plan to attend the hearing. Write to Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Mineral Management Section, P.O. Box 30452, Lansing, MI 48909. Email to DNR-Minerals@michigan.gov.

We stand opposed to granting this mineral lease to Great Lakes Exploration.

Dale Burie

McAllister, Wis.

Coalition to SAVE the Menominee River Inc.