FAQs

The Copperwood Project is one of very few fully permitted, greenfield copper projects in the United States. The Copperwood Project meets Michigan’s mining laws which are some of the strictest in the nation and were passed with the support of environmental advocacy groups, including The National Wildlife Federation, Michigan United Conservation Clubs and the Michigan Environmental Council. 

The Copperwood Project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $425 million and create 700 direct and in-direct good-paying jobs as well as 300 additional construction jobs. 

Copperwood will maintain the strictest environmental standards that will enable Copperwood to minimize and mitigate environmental impact. Copperwood has a non-acid-generating ore body, meaning it is incapable of producing acidic runoff that would adversely affect the environment and the health of people or animals. The project will not draw water from Lake Superior. 

Copperwood is an underground mine allowing for a modest surface footprint. Highland Copper, Copperwood’s parent company, has created 19 new acres of wetland on site and will preserve 717 acres in perpetuity. 

No. Copperwood will not draw water from Lake Superior. 

No. Copperwood is not permitted to mine under the Porcupine Mountain State Park. 

Twenty-two units of government, ranging from townships to county boards, have issued resolutions of support, nearly ten local institutions have submitted letters of support, and dozens of community members have spoken at public hearings in support.  

No. Extensive testing, reviewed by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, proves Copperwood waste rock cannot generate acid. The fundamental chemistry of waste rock is acid neutralizing not acid generating. 

No. The waste rock consists of the elements that are naturally present in rocks you’ll find in the area. Local mined rock contains particularly low, natural levels of those elements. Since the waste rock cannot generate acid, as proven through extensive testing reviewed by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, there is essentially no risk that arsenic, mercury, lead or other naturally occurring elements will leach into the water table. 

Our tailings disposal facility is designed to protect against breaches both large and small. The facility is subject to rigorous design criteria and review by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, guided by stringent and modern mining regulation in Michigan. Our tailings facility is built in three stages. As such, a simultaneous failure of all three is highly unlikely. 

The mine is underground. Our processing facility will be fully enclosed. Any external lighting will be shielded and downward facing. We will be respectful of the region and minimize both light and noise. We believe Copperwood will be largely undetectable to regional tourists. 

The Copperwood Project is rigorously engineered to ensure that no pollution of groundwater, surrounding streams and rivers, or Lake Superior will occur. 

Any water discharged from the facility will be processed through a reverse osmosis water treatment plant to ensure that it meets strict cleanliness standards. Groundwater and surface water throughout and downstream from the facility will be continuously monitored for contamination through a network of monitoring wells and sampling stations. 

Under Michigan mining legislation, mining companies are obliged to post financial assurances for the unforeseen circumstances that they cannot pay for responsible closure. Highland Copper has already posted $6.5 million with Michigan, and this will increase with further site activity. Given these facts, Michigan will not be responsible financially for mine closure.

The United States needs copper more than ever. It’s used to create our next generation of vehicles, renewable energy and so much more. Highland Copper is confident the copper mined at Copperwood will stay in the U.S. and much of it will support companies that are creating good paying jobs right here in Michigan. 

Highland may elect to use the refining services of a Canadian company, mainly because the US does not currently have regional refining capacity. But the ownership of the copper does not leave the US. 

Given the limited copper processing capacity in the U.S., the concentrate may be sent to Canada for processing. However, ownership of the copper does not transfer at that stage. Copperwood Resources Inc, a U.S. company, will independently determine the end customer, ideally a Michigan-based industry.