UPPER PENINSULA -- A press release issued by Rio Tinto, the parent company of Kennecott Minerals, indicates they may have plans for future mines in the Upper Peninsula.

Kennecott recently won approval from the Department of Environmental Quality to start building a controversial nickel-copper mine in the Yellow Dog Plains of Marquette. The company still needs to get permits from the Department of Natural Resources for the mine. That's expected to occur on January 10.

Kennecott refers to the mine as the Eagle Project, and Rio Tinto, in its press release, says the Eagle Project could be the first of several sites in the U.P.

"Eagle is just one of many projects that will add to Rio Tinto's growth and value," the press release stated. "It is a 4.1 million ton, high grade nickel resource (3.6% nickel, 2.9% copper) in a highly prospective region for additional nickel discoveries. Our exploration team discovered Eagle in 2002 and we are now reviewing over 450,000 acres of mineral title we have in the area. Our focus is on six further adjacent prospects that may have the potential to extend significantly the mine life at current planned production rates."

The Eagle Project ran into angry resistance from environmentalists and many local residents who fear the proposed mine will damage the pristine environment on the Yellow Dog Plains. But Project Manager Jon Cherry told TV6 he believes that the new Michigan law governing sulfide mining should ease the way for future mines.

"And if you're able to demonstrate that you meet the high thresholds that are in the new mining law, that gives you the opportunity then to create a new mine and create new jobs and move forward in the process," he explained. "And we're comfortable with the framework that has been developed that allows mines to proceed."

Cherry said the other six sites are within 50 miles of the Eagle Project.

Construction of that first mine could start within a month.  After its construction, it's expected to provide about 100 local jobs for a period of eight years before closing down.

However, if additional mines are approved and built, the economic and environmental impact could be substantially greater.