Wisconsin Resources Protection Council

August 20, 2019

Eagle Herald

Dear Editor,

The Menominee Tribe has repeatedly voiced concerns to Michigan environmental regulators about the proposed Back Forty Mine. Aquila Resources, the Canadian mining company behind the mine, has failed to submit the information required to determine the likely impacts of the mine from acid mine drainage, wetlands destruction, and groundwater drawdown. Nevertheless, the agency, now known as Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy (EGLE), has granted multiple permits needed for the mine to move forward. Recent reporting in the Detroit Free Press and other outlets reveal approval was granted despite serious concerns flagged by regulatory staff, and a staff recommendation to deny at least one of the permits necessary for the mine.

August 27, 2019

Eagle Herald

Dear Editor,

My husband and I attended the Mellen Township Meeting on Aug. 21. During the public comment portion of the meeting many residents spoke regarding the mine. It appeared those that attended had concerns regarding Aquila Resources’ contacting the townships to request a Community Contract be signed. This contract is irrevocable and auto-renewing. Aquila Resources has hired a grant writer with promises of equipment and services for government bodies in exchange for signing the contract. Once the contract is signed the government bodies would not be able to make statements against mining and the pollution of our water and air. Why is Aquila Resources doing this? It is because they do not have a social license (public’s trust) for operation of the proposed metallic sulfide mine on the banks of the Menominee River, less than 150 feet from the water. It appears they are trying to buy our approval. The state’s decision to approve this mine weighs heavily on the public’s trust. By signing this contract, you are giving Aquila Resources a social license to operate and approval to pollute our water and air.

August 27, 2019

Eagle Herald

Dear Editor,

Aquila Resources title heading — local agreement — named parties are: Menominee County, City of Stephenson, Lake Township, Holmes, Daggett and the Village of Daggett.

The language used in the local agreement tries to make it appear to be a cooperative effort. This statement about obligations is arrogant and likely not to be accepted by local units of government. These local agreements demand that participants agree not to oppose the mine or take any action which would serve to delay the construction of the mine.

by Mark Doremus

August 23, 2019

https://www.facebook.com/back40film/

Mine developer Aquila Resources, Inc., has held at least two private, off-the-record meetings with local government officials, seeking support for its proposed Back Forty mine in Menominee County, Michigan.

August 20, 2019

Eagle Herald

Dear Editor,

The Coalition to SAVE the Menominee River Inc. filed suit in Michigan State Court contesting the signing of the Wetlands Permit which contains 28 pages of single-spaced conditions to be met by Aquila before the permit is valid. The court case is not over, so no decision has been made by Judge Pulter. Yet, Aquila has chosen to lie in their advertising on TV-6, Marquette; TV-5, Green Bay; and TV-11, Green Bay, telling the public they have all the permits and will be mining in 2020. This information is not true.

Why the sudden change to approve copper-zinc mine? Will it pollute Lake Michigan?

by Bruce Murphy

August 20, 2019

UrbanMilwaukee.com

This is a story about an open pit copper, zinc and gold mine on the border of Wisconsin and Michigan that could pollute the waters of both states, including Lake Michigan and also endanger sacred burial grounds of the Menominee Indians of Wisconsin. Scientific staff of both the State of Michigan and federal EPA had significant concerns about the proposed mine with the homey name of the Back Forty Project, and were unsatisfied with responses by Aquila Resources, a Canadian start-up company with no experience operating such a mine.

by Keith Matheny

Detroit Free Press

August 13, 2019

Over and over, Michigan environmental regulators sounded alarms as they reviewed a proposed large, open-pit ore mine in the Upper Peninsula near the Menominee River, prized for walleye fishing and a major tributary to Lake Michigan. The mine would send acidic mining wastes into the river and surrounding waterways, which would then spill into the Great Lake, staff said. More acres of wetlands would be harmed than the mining company was projecting, evaluators found.

Then the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and then-Michigan Department of Environmental Quality approved the mine anyway.

by Keith Matheny

Detroit Free Press

August 13, 2019

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality agreed last year to participate in a web meeting with an applicant for a controversial, open-pit mine in the Upper Peninsula, specifically to avoid creating a public record out of information the applicant wanted to show the agency.