Nickel Mine, Environmental Activists Exist Together in Michigan
2023-12-12
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1About 20 years ago, the international mining company Rio Tinto said it would open a nickel mine in the far northern part of the American state of Michigan.
2Rio Tinto promised good jobs for people in the area close to Canada.
3But environmental activists had concerns.
4They were worried about industrial pollution from the metal, the mining byproducts and contaminated water runoff into rivers and lakes.
5Many observers expected a long legal fight between the two sides.
6Some did not believe the mine would ever open.
7But the Eagle mine has been open for more than 10 years.
8There have been no accidents or pollution problems.
9People in the area who once protested the mine have found a way to exist with the mine.
10Maura Davenport is one of those people.
11She is one of the top leaders of the Superior Watershed Partnership (SWP), an environmental interest group.
12"I was fiercely opposed to the mine, and I changed," she said.
13Davenport's group was invited to act as a "watchdog" for the mine.
14Rio Tinto asked the group to oversee pollution testing that has higher standards than regulators require.
15The cooperation between the environmental group and the mining company may be an example for other mines around the world.
16Many new mines are opening in order to provide minerals needed to make items used by the green energy economy.
17These items include batteries, electrical wire and magnets.
18If countries around the world are to meet the climate goals set in Paris in 2015, there needs to be a 400-percent increase in the production of these minerals.
19The International Energy Agency said there needs to be an increase of 19 times in nickel production alone.
20Davenport said the Eagle mine proposal "divided our community."
21Other mines in northern Michigan had opened in the 1800s and closed in the 1930s.
22The mining companies left behind large open holes and environmental damage.
23Water that ran from the mine polluted Lake Superior, one of the Great Lakes in the northern Midwest.
24Simon Nish worked for Rio Tinto when the Eagle mine was proposed.
25He said he understands the "dilemma" that communities face.
26They need jobs and an economic benefit, he said, but "don't want long-term environmental consequences."
27Residents do not trust the big mining companies he said, so it makes it easier to say no to proposals.
28He worked in Australia in the 1990s when mining companies wanted to use land where native Aboriginal people lived.
29He said he learned that businesses need to "understand the interests of both sides" if they want long-term success.
30When Nish arrived in Michigan in 2011, the mine was under construction.
31But it faced several legal disputes.
32In order to find a way for the mine to open, Nish considered looking for a partner.
33Nish said the Superior Watershed Partnership was already testing water around the area.
34He asked if they would consider running an environmental testing program for the mine.
35Over a few months, Rio Tinto and the SWP made a plan for testing.
36The group required open access to the mine.
37It would also test groundwater in the surrounding area.
38And it required permission to test a processing center 30 kilometers away.
39Rio Tinto was required to pay for the work.
40The agreement launching the Community Environmental Monitoring Program was signed in 2012.
41More than 10 years later, no major pollution problems have turned up.
42But some environmental groups are still concerned.
43Rochelle Dale is head of the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve.
44She said Eagle mine and the testing program are doing good work.
45But, she said, "a lot of the sulfide mines in the past haven't really had a problem until after closure.
46It's something that our grandchildren are going to inherit."
47As more mines open up to help meet the world's demand for new minerals, mining companies are starting to understand how important local support is to their success.
48The partnership in Northern Michigan gives large mining companies a "road map."
49But, although it has been successful so far, there is no guarantee that an accident will not happen that pollutes the area in the future.
50I'm Dan Friedell.
1About 20 years ago, the international mining company Rio Tinto said it would open a nickel mine in the far northern part of the American state of Michigan. 2Rio Tinto promised good jobs for people in the area close to Canada. 3But environmental activists had concerns. They were worried about industrial pollution from the metal, the mining byproducts and contaminated water runoff into rivers and lakes. 4Many observers expected a long legal fight between the two sides. Some did not believe the mine would ever open. 5But the Eagle mine has been open for more than 10 years. There have been no accidents or pollution problems. 6People in the area who once protested the mine have found a way to exist with the mine. 7Maura Davenport is one of those people. She is one of the top leaders of the Superior Watershed Partnership (SWP), an environmental interest group. 8"I was fiercely opposed to the mine, and I changed," she said. 9Davenport's group was invited to act as a "watchdog" for the mine. Rio Tinto asked the group to oversee pollution testing that has higher standards than regulators require. 10The cooperation between the environmental group and the mining company may be an example for other mines around the world. 11Many new mines are opening in order to provide minerals needed to make items used by the green energy economy. These items include batteries, electrical wire and magnets. 12If countries around the world are to meet the climate goals set in Paris in 2015, there needs to be a 400-percent increase in the production of these minerals. The International Energy Agency said there needs to be an increase of 19 times in nickel production alone. 13Davenport said the Eagle mine proposal "divided our community." Other mines in northern Michigan had opened in the 1800s and closed in the 1930s. The mining companies left behind large open holes and environmental damage. Water that ran from the mine polluted Lake Superior, one of the Great Lakes in the northern Midwest. 14Simon Nish worked for Rio Tinto when the Eagle mine was proposed. He said he understands the "dilemma" that communities face. They need jobs and an economic benefit, he said, but "don't want long-term environmental consequences." 15Residents do not trust the big mining companies he said, so it makes it easier to say no to proposals. 16He worked in Australia in the 1990s when mining companies wanted to use land where native Aboriginal people lived. He said he learned that businesses need to "understand the interests of both sides" if they want long-term success. 17When Nish arrived in Michigan in 2011, the mine was under construction. But it faced several legal disputes. In order to find a way for the mine to open, Nish considered looking for a partner. 18Nish said the Superior Watershed Partnership was already testing water around the area. He asked if they would consider running an environmental testing program for the mine. 19Over a few months, Rio Tinto and the SWP made a plan for testing. The group required open access to the mine. It would also test groundwater in the surrounding area. And it required permission to test a processing center 30 kilometers away. Rio Tinto was required to pay for the work. 20The agreement launching the Community Environmental Monitoring Program was signed in 2012. More than 10 years later, no major pollution problems have turned up. 21But some environmental groups are still concerned. Rochelle Dale is head of the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve. She said Eagle mine and the testing program are doing good work. 22But, she said, "a lot of the sulfide mines in the past haven't really had a problem until after closure. It's something that our grandchildren are going to inherit." 23As more mines open up to help meet the world's demand for new minerals, mining companies are starting to understand how important local support is to their success. 24The partnership in Northern Michigan gives large mining companies a "road map." But, although it has been successful so far, there is no guarantee that an accident will not happen that pollutes the area in the future. 25I'm Dan Friedell. 26VOA's Steve Baragona wrote this story. Dan Friedell adapted it for Learning English. 27________________________________________________ 28Words in This Story 29contaminated - adj. something that is no longer pure because an outside element has dirtied it or made it harmful 30standard - n. something set up by authority or by general consent as a rule for measuring or as a model 31item - n. an object of attention, concern, or interest 32regulator - n. a person or group that establishes rules and makes sure they are followed 33battery - n. an electric cell or connected electric cells for providing electric current 34dilemma - n. a difficult decision or question 35benefit - n. something that produces good or helpful results or effects 36construction - n. the building work that must be done to create something new 37access - n. the ability to walk into an otherwise restricted area 38inherit - v. to receive something when a person dies 39road map- n. guidelines or directions proven successful in meeting a goal 40We want to hear from you. Would you want a partnership like this to oversee a mine in your area?