Wisconsin Resources Protection Council

By Matt Hrodey, Milwaukee Magazine

December 16, 2010

A Milwaukee-based mining company, the Commerce Group, is suing the government of El Salvador for $100 million, arguing it unjustly revoked permits for a gold mine in the country. Some environmental activists are crying foul, saying the lawsuit, filed under the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), seeks to exploit the country, where the government has halted all gold and silver mining due to environmental concerns.

(Note:  This legal action supersedes the action initiated in June 2009)

1. Press Release – January 18, 2011 – Lawsuit Filed to Stop Release of Toxic Metals at Wisconsin’s Flambeau Mine

2. Fact Sheet – January 18, 2011 – Summary of Clean Water Act Citizen Suit Against Flambeau Mining Company (for an updated July 2011 fact sheet, please click HERE)

3. Mine Schematic

4. Background Information on Flambeau Mine

5. Official Correspondence

Complaint by WRPC, the Center for Biological Diversity, and Laura Gauger to Kennecott’s Flambeau Mining Company for violations of the Federal Clean Water Act – January 18, 2011

• Entire Document

Response to WRPC Notice Letter, issued by Kennecott’s Flambeau Mining Company – December 30, 2010

• FMC Response

Notice Letter sent by WRPC, the Center for Biological Diversity, and Laura Gauger to Kennecott’s Flambeau Mining Company – November 16, 2010

• Entire Document

6. Scientific Reports that Form the Basis of WRPC’s Complaint

• Report on Groundwater and Surface Water Contamination at the Flambeau Mine, David M Chambers, Ph.D. and Kendra Zamzow, Ph.D., Center for Science in Public Participation, June 5, 2009
  • Groundwater Summary
  • Surface Water Summary
  • Entire Document

7. Contact Information:

• Attorney James Saul
• Attorney Marc Fink
• Attorney Dan Mensher
• Dr. David Chambers
• Dr. Al Gedicks
• Laura Gauger

December 10, 2010

Dear WRPC Member,

In June 2009 WRPC notified Kennecott and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) of its intent to sue over water pollution caused by the Flambeau Mine, near Ladysmith, Wisconsin, unless the pollution and related issues were fully addressed (see www.wrpc.net for full details and news coverage). One of WRPC’s gravest concerns is that the industry’s false claim of environmental success at the Flambeau Mine site is sending the wrong message to citizens and Tribes throughout the Great Lakes Region who are faced with new mining proposals (see Coleman and Chiriboga’s overview enclosed). Indeed, the Flambeau mine has become a fraudulent “calling card” for the mining industry.