Wisconsin Resources Protection Council

October 24, 2018

Dear WRPC Member and Friends of the Menominee River,

Aquila Resources needs to convince its investors that the Back Forty project is moving forward in order to raise the pre-production capital cost, estimated at $294 million. Aquila has celebrated Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ)’s issuance of a controversial wetland permit while downplaying the 28 pages of special conditions attached to the permit because of serious hydrological concerns that were overlooked in Aquila’s incomplete application. 

August 9, 2018

Mr. Alan Hair, President and Chief Executive Officer

Hudbay Minerals

25 York Street, Suite 800

Toronto, Ontario  M5J 2V5

Canada

Dear Mr. Hair,

We are writing in regard to Hudbay’s 10.9% investment in Aquila Resources’ Back Forty metallic sulfide project in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. While Aquila has celebrated its recent receipt of the final permit for its controversial open pit sulfide mine next to the Menominee River, the mine is no closer to construction now than when the project was first discovered in 2002.

July 5, 2018

Dear WRPC Member and Friends of the Menominee River,

On June 4, 2018, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) issued the final required permit for Aquila’s controversial Back Forty open-pit sulfide mine next to the Menominee River on the Michigan-Wisconsin border. Environmental groups and the Menominee Indian Tribe were outraged at the unwarranted approval and are calling on DEQ Director C. Heidi Grether to explain her decision.

We must be on to something!
Local editorial unleashes smear campaign against environmental activists fighting to save the Willow Flowage

June 25, 2018–State Senator Tom Tiffany just can’t stand to have me question the wisdom of imposing unwanted mining projects that threaten the clean water of Wisconsin. So after my recent testimony against opening up formerly protected lands from mining in Oneida County, he passed along the information on my 1970 antiwar protest conviction to the River News, which ran the story in the June 23, 2018, edition.

DEQ Director Approves Aquila Back Forty Mine Wetland Permit, Ignores DEQ’s Own Objections

STEPHENSON, MI — Environmental groups are crying foul over Monday’s decision by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to approve the Aquila Back Forty Wetland Permit. In a joint statement, the Mining Action Group (MAG) of the Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition (UPEC), the Front 40 Environmental Fight, and numerous regional environmental groups say they are outraged by the unwarranted approval and are calling on DEQ Director to explain her decision.

“This smells rotten. Director Grether’s approval of the Aquila Back Forty Wetland permit was a political act, directly contradicting the recommendation of DEQ’s own Water Resources Division (WRD). This permit is inconsistent with the Clean Water Act,” said Kathleen Heideman of the Mining Action Group.

May 10, 2018

Dear WRPC Member and Friends of the Menominee River,

On May 3, 2018, in a major reversal of their previous recommendation to reject Aquila’s wetland permit (letter of March 8, 2018) for the Back Forty project, the EPA informed Michigan’s Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) that “we believe that there is a ready pathway for the resolution of EPA’s remaining objections through MDEQ’S inclusion of specific conditions in a final permit issued by June 6, 2018.”

by Tracy Fernandez Rysavy

GreenAmerica.org

April 25, 2018

Mr. Oskar Lewnowski, CIO

Orion Mine Finance Group

1121 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 3000

New York, NY  10036

Dear Mr. Lewnowski:

We are once again writing in regard to Orion’s 14.3%  ownership of Aquila Resources’ Back Forty metallic sulfide deposit in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Aquila’s recent press release (March 2, 2018) states that they anticipate a decision on their wetland permit in the first half of 2018. This optimistic assessment has been called into question by the March 8, 2018 letter from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to Michigan’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) stating that the Back Forty project “does not comply with CWA [Clean Water Act] Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines, and EPA objects to the issuance of a permit for this project as proposed” (Christopher Korleski, Director of EPA Water Division to Michigan DEQ).

March 17, 2018

Wisconsin Resources Protection Council

Box 263

Tomahawk, WI  54487

Mr. Sean Roosen, CEO and Chair of Board

Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd.

1100 Avenue des Canadiens-de-Montreal

Suite 300

Montreal, Quebec  H3B 2S2

Canada

Dear Mr. Roosen:

We are once again writing in regard to Osisko’s 15% ownership of Aquila Resources’ Back Forty metallic sulfide deposit in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. You have undoubtedly seen Aquila’s March 9 permitting update announcing that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has provided comments to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) regarding the company’s wetlands permit.