Two days before the Michigan State Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) ceased to exist and a week after its director stepped down, DEQ moved to wrap up a long standing fight over permits for a planned nickel sulphide mine by concluding that only buildings may be considered “places of worship” and that therefore a rock sacred to the Keeweenaw Bay Indian Community was not worthy of protection. Kennecott is a subsidiary of Rio Tinto.
See http://lakesuperiorminingnews.net/2010/01/15/more-coverage-controversial-kennecott-mine-permits-ok%E2%80%99d-at-11th-hour/.
See also
Through the Looking Glass: Michigan DEQ Says Michigan DEQ Followed Law In Rio Tinto Approval
http://lakesuperiorminingnews.net/2010/01/14/through-the-looking-glass-michigan-deq-says-michigan-deq-followed-law-in-kennecott-approval/
Kennecott Mine Not Done Deal: opinion piece by Jack Parker, Baltic, Michigan, USA
http://lsmnopinion.wordpress.com/2010/01/24/kennecott-mine-not-done-deal/
Rio Tinto’s Permits Should Be Revoked
http://lsmnopinion.wordpress.com/2009/12/19/rio-tintos-permits-should-be-revoked/