STEPHENSON, MI (WTAQ)- The Menominee Indian Tribe filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S Environmental Protection Agency and US Corps of Engineers on Monday.
The tribe says the action is because they aren’t complying wit the Clean Water Act, and wants the court to instruct both agencies to “assume control and exercise jurisdiction over the Section 404 permitting” for the mine.
” We think rightfully, that the federal government needs to be the decision maker, and the authority.”
Besaw added that the tribe is concerned about protecting the Menominee Tribe’s environmental and cultural interests in the Menominee River, which borders both the State of Michigan and the State of Wisconsin, and adjacent wetlands, and to protect many sites of great cultural, religious, and historic significance to the Menominee Tribe.
“So we are looking at better safeguards in a process that reduces the risk of everybody that has concerns over the water.”
The lawsuit comes just a day before a public hearing is scheduled which may help give Aquilla Resources the final permit needed to begin the project.
The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday January 23 at 6:00pm, and will take place at Stephenson High School.
The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality will use the input to help determine if they will issue Aquila Resources a wetlands permit.
The permit will be the final one needed to have approval for the projetct.
The state has already issued mining, air, and surface water discharge permits.
