Community environmental monitoring program board named

Marquette County Community Foundation announces appointments to the Community Environmental Monitoring Program Board Marquette, MICH. (November 30, 2012) – Marquette County Community Foundation (MCCF) is pleased to announce the appointments to its Community Environmental Monitoring Program (CEMP) Board.

Establishing the Board is an important milestone in the implementation of community environmental monitoring of the Rio Tinto Eagle Mine. The Oversight Board has two important roles to guarantee the independence of the community environmental monitoring program.

First, the Board pays for the monitoring with funds they receive from Rio Tinto Eagle Mine and potentially other parties. Secondly, the Board acts as an independent umpire should any differences arise about CEMP. Both Superior Watershed Partnership and Rio Tinto have agreed that they will abide by the decisions of the CEMP Board.
The Board appointees are:
•    CEMP Board Chairperson  –        Dr. Nancy Wiseman Seminoff
•    Environmental representative –  Lawrence Carey
•    Mining representative –                Richard Aho
•     KBIC representative –                   Open
•    Community representative –        Pam Christensen

“I am thrilled to welcome these individuals into their new roles on the CEMP Board, and extend my sincere thanks and appreciation for their interest in this unique program,” said Mark Canale, President of the Board of Trustees of the MCCF. Canale added, “This program sets an historic benchmark for community involvement in environmental
protection.”

“I believe the Community Environmental Monitoring Program is not only a good thing, but precedent-setting,” said Nancy Seminoff, the CEMP Board Chairperson.  “More environmental monitoring is good for the community and good for Lake Superior” Seminoff added.  This newly formed board will serve a term of three years.  If you would like more information please contact the Marquette County Community Foundation.