By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — The University of Maine at Presque Isle will present a public forum, “Mineral Deposits, Mining, Mine Water Treatment and Environmental Concerns,” from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 23, in the Campus Center. This event is free and open to the public.
“We have invited three speakers with expertise on the issues for the forum. We expect a large crowd, with some environmental groups from southern Maine indicating they’d come,” said Professor Chunzeng Wang, event organizer.
The forum will provide a first-of-its-kind opportunity for residents of northern Maine and students of the university to hear from a panel of high-profile speakers who are experts in the fields concerning issues of mining metallic minerals.
“The goal of the forum, which is intended to be informational and educational, is to begin a meaningful dialogue about Maine’s metallic minerals and mining,” said Wang, UMPI associate professor of geology, environment and GIS. “Anyone with an interest in issues about mineral deposits, mining and mine waste treatment and environmental concerns is welcome to attend.”
Officials with the state’s largest landowner, J.D. Irving, Limited, were in Presque Isle last year to discuss mining possibilities at Bald Mountain — property co-owned by J.D. Irving and Prentiss & Carlisle, about 15 miles west of Portage.
James D. Irving, president, attended a reception and dinner at Northern Maine Community College on March 22, 2012, joined by company representatives and mining experts, to provide details regarding the potential mining project at Bald Mountain and LD 1853 — a bill that went before the Maine State Legislature addressing changes to mining regulations in the state.
In the mid-1970s, deposits of gold, silver, copper and zinc were discovered at Bald Mountain. Despite about $25 million in exploration, onerous regulations prevented previous landowners from obtaining permits to mine. Given the current market for gold and silver, Irving officials believe now’s the time to reconsider the possibilities.
It’s estimated if mining operations take place at Bald Mountain, upwards of 600 direct and indirect jobs will be created.
The UMPI event will include three experts on geology and mining issues. Dr. Robert Marvinney, state geologist and director of the Maine Geological Survey, will present on “Maine’s Geology, Mineral Potential and Basics of Metallic Mineral Mining.” Dr. David Lentz, professor and Economic Geology chair, Department of Earth Sciences, University of New Brunswick, will give a talk entitled “Exploration and Mining in the 21st Century: Responsible Mineral Resource Development Options & the Role of High Technology.” Mr. James Cormier, superintendent of the Department of Environmental and Community Affairs, Xstrata Zinc Brunswick Mines, will deliver a presentation on “Brunswick Mine: 48 + Years of Base Metal Mining.”
Following each presentation, there will be a question-and-answer session moderated by Dr. Wang.
The event is sponsored by the university’s Environmental Studies and Sustainability Program and co-sponsored by the Maine Geological Survey. For more information, e-mail Dr. Wang at chunzeng.wang@umpi.edu or call 768-9412.
