Readers should be aware of a public hearing on the proposed renewal of a wastewater discharge permit for the Eagle Mine’s Humboldt Mill.

The session is set for Jan. 13 at the Westwood High School in Ishpeming Township.

At 6 p.m. on that date, there will be a brief presentation by DEQ officials on the permit, before a pre-hearing question-and-answer session. The hearing, where written and oral public comments will be received, is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., but may begin sooner. The hearing will end at 9 p.m.

Mine operators Lundin Mining have applied for the new permit with certain modifications, including an increased discharge volume of treated water to efficiently manage operations and a second discharge location to provide flexibility when releasing treated water back into the environment.

Copies of the draft permit and other documents are available at www.deq.state.mi.us/owis under “Permits on Public Notice.”

Written public comment on the draft permit will be accepted through Jan. 16. Comments should be submitted to Alvin Lam, Permits Section, Water Resources Division, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, P.O. Box 30458, Lansing, MI 48909-7958.

We suggest area residents do their homework and participate in this important public process.

From what we can tell Lundin, and Kennecott before them, has done a good job at both the mine and sites.

That said, there’s nothing wrong with keeing an eye on this permit process.