Lake Superior Binational Program: Mining in the Lake Superior Basin Online Workshop Series; Overview of Mining in the Lake Superior Basin Background Information

The Binational Program to Restore and Protect the Lake Superior Basin (LSBP) incorporates a zero discharge and zero emission demonstration for critical chemicals with an ecosystem based approach to resource management. The LSBP was included in the Lake Superior Lakewide Management Plan (LaMP), which calls for identifying and reducing critical chemicals per the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. With the inclusion of the LSBP, the Lake Superior LaMP has become broader and more comprehensive. Since mining and minerals development has the potential to discharge or emit critical chemicals, affect aquatic and terrestrial habitat, and plays a role in the sustainability of the communities within the basin, the Superior Work Group (SWG) that implements the LaMP struck an ad hoc Mining Committee in 2007. The committee is hosting a series of three online workshops in 2009 to explore issues associated with mining in the Lake Superior basin. This first workshop will provide an overview of the existing and proposed mining and minerals development. The second will look at environmental and socio-economic impacts. The third will explore the various regulations that affect mining in each jurisdiction. The intent of this series of workshops is to assist the SWG in determining what actions should be encouraged in the mining sector in order to meet the goals established in the LaMP. This paper is intended to provide background material for the first workshop. It addresses the geology of the area, provides a brief history of mineral exploration and development in the basin, reviews current and potential future operations around the basin, discusses costs and benefits and reviews the LaMP mercury and ecosystem goals.