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Mineral vs. surface rights at issue
To the Journal editor:
Last Saturday, we opened our mail and found a notice from UPX Minerals, Inc out of Wakefield, Michigan, requesting a direct metallic minerals lease from the Department of Natural Resources -- under our own home. We were horrified!
You see, in the state of Michigan, there is this quirky problem: SEVERED MINERAL RIGHTS. In most cases, when you purchase land, you are paying full market value for surface rights only. In most cases, the mineral rights are not included.
Large corporations and the state of Michigan control most of the mineral rights and can sell or lease these rights to other corporations interested in extracting minerals or metals -- in this case, ore. The owner of mineral rights can access your property, conduct exploration or drilling, or potentially develop a mine under your home or camp, and as the landowner you have very little control over that. Doesn't that seem outrageous?
I live on Forestville Road, just two miles from Marquette. There are others close by who have also received such notices. I do not think it is in the best interest of Marquette residents and surrounding townships to have another sulfide mine, potentially.
These exploration sites are so close to our communities and the Dead River Basin. All told, UPX Minerals is requesting direct mineral leases for more than 1,800 acres in Marquette County alone!!
Last year, Highland Copper, the Canadian mining company that owns UPX Minerals Inc., announced that it had bought all of the mineral properties previously controlled by Kennecott Exploration Company and Rio Tinto Nickel Company -- 447,842 acres in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, as shown in this map: https://goo.gl/L82Nwm
All of these mineral properties are held by UPX Minerals Inc. Their goal is to build "a pipeline of projects that could be developed." In Marquette County, they are seeking nickel-copper massive sulfides, gold, and zinc-copper deposits. Now they want even more minerals, the ones in our backyards.
The DNR's 30-day comment period ends on May 11.
Did you receive a UPX Mineral Lease Request letter? Wondering what to do next? Whether you are a landowner or concerned citizen, please come to discuss your concerns: a meeting will be held in Marquette on Wednesday, from 4 to 5:30 pm. Call 906-662-0037 for location and details.
Sue Beckstrom NOEL
Marquette