National fishing group opposes Back Forty mine
Dear Editor,
I am writing in regards to the Aquila Back Forty Mine Project. On behalf of the Illinois Smallmouth Alliance (ISA) and our membership (the largest smallmouth bass community in the nation) We Are Opposed To The Back Forty Mine Project.
The Back Forty Mine Project targets a section of the Menominee River considered to be a world class smallmouth bass fishery — one of the best in North America. Fishing clubs, such as the ISA and many others, are deeply concerned about the future of smallmouth bass fishing on the Menominee River, as are the small businesses, including river guiding companies, that depend on the health of the river.
Aquila intends to construct a deep open pit mine adjacent to the river, with a cut-off wall less than 150 feet from the river. Dangerously close to the flood line. Because this is a sulfide mine, the proximity raises serious flooding risks. Aquila proposes to backfill their deep pit with waste-rock and tailings slurry. Some tailings will remain as permanent features of the landscape, continuing to produce acid mine drainage for decades or centuries. In addition to mining activities, the Back Forty calls for on-site crushing, milling and refining through the use of floatation, separation and the use of cyanide. Two different tailings basins will be constructed to contain the waste-rock slurry.
A large percentage of the ISA Membership visits the Menominee River throughout the year, staying in Marinette County at the Tinker’s Dam Cabin, enjoying the trophy smallmouth fishing the Menominee offers. If anything were to happen to to this great fishery, we fear of the impact it may have on our friends at Tinker’s Dam.
Because of the risk of catastrophic failure from proposed tailing dams, the chance of flooding, and also the negative economic impacts that will devastate the region in such failures, I again so state — The Illinois Smallmouth Alliance Leadership and it’s Members are opposed to the construction of the Aquila Back Forty Project.
Terry Dodge
Illinois Smallmouth Alliance, Conservation Director
