The Michigan Court of Appeals last month overturned a lower court ruling, clearing the way for the state Department of Environmental Quality to decide whether to issue a permit for a nickel and copper mine in northern Marquette County.

The 73-acre mine would involve a $100 million investment and create more than 300 pre-operation construction, truck driver and indirect jobs.

The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve and the Huron Mountain Club challenged the DEQ when it OK'd the Kennecott Eagle Minerals Company's mining application, which meant the agency was ready to begin considering whether to approve it. The appeals court failed to show they'd been harmed by the DEQ's finding that the application was complete.

The next step is for Kennecott to submit its responses to questions and concerns the DEQ raised earlier about the planned mine.