Phosphate mining company clashes with archaeologists over Secotan site

Canada-owned PotashCorp cares little for Native American history:

PotashCorp has withdrawn its offer to cooperate in an archaeological investigation of land it owns on Bath Creek. A number of experts contend the Potash-owned site, located at Beasley Point, is the most likely candidate for the lost Secotan Indian village.

In a letter dated Jan. 3, Steve Beckel, general manager of Potash’s Aurora facility, asserted the methods prescribed by the company in advance of the called-for investigation had not been followed. “As the landowner, we have the right to dictate our requirements for access to our property,” Beckel wrote.

I've never been a fan of eminent domain, but issues like this make me want to reconsider.

This will come as no surprise, but apparently making a buck off this is at the top of their concerns:

Among other points, the Sept. 30 letter called for a feasibility study that would confirm whether a replica Indian village modeled on Secotan could reap tourism dollars. Apparently, no such study has come to light recently.

As mentioned in the title, Potash's Aurora operation centers around the mining and processing of phosphates, an activity notorious for the spoiling of wetlands, creeks and rivers from mining, not to mention high atmospheric releases of Mercury, Sulfur Dioxides, and a messy stew of other toxins associated with power plant operations.

And they were just granted a new permit to continue polluting for three more decades:

Received a mine continuation permit in 2009 which provides more than 30 years of additional mining

And that approval was at least partially due to these surveys:

Surveys were conducted between 2004 and 2009 at all the locations where we operate. We achieved our target score of 4 or above at 14 of 15 sites surveyed, with an average score of 4.2 for all sites.

We learned that communities judge our company by our local actions rather than our national reputation or performance.

Aurora — Score 4.3 (out of 5)

This survey, completed in the summer of 2009 — near the end of the mining permit process — enabled us to compare results with those of a survey given in 2005.

Some 2009 survey participants who supported our getting the permit were concerned by the length and uncertainty of the mining permit process. PotashCorp was credited with building understanding and support for our position. There was a strong desire for more communication between the company and the community, especially regarding local initiatives.

So now that they've got their thirty year permit extension, local initiatives can go suck a lemon.