WRPC website address: http://www.wrpc.net/index.html

September 23, 2002

Dear WRPC/WATER Network Member,

The negotiations for a public purchase of the proposed Crandon minesite as a conservation area devoted to sustainable land management practices and tribal cultural values came to an end when state officials rejected Nicolet Minerals Co.'s purchase price between $51 and $94 million (see enclosed WSJ story of 9/14/02). In announcing his decision, Gov. Scott McCallum said the purchase would have been "a blow to the Crandon area economy" if the mine were not constructed.  The governor seems to be unaware of the importance of clean water to the existing economy of Forest County, to the sacred wild rice beds of the Mole Lake Ojibwe,  and to the tourism-based economy of the Wolf River watershed.

The governor also seems to be unaware that his own Department of Natural Resources (DNR) had earlier informed Nicolet Minerals that groundwater models predict pollution at a legal compliance boundary nearly a quarter mile from the proposed mine site. The DNR said the pollution may travel 22 times faster and reach levels five times higher than the company's predictions. The agency also predicts that the pollution will affect the groundwater that provides the sole source of drinking water for the surrounding community (see WSJ story of 8/31/02).

Shortly after the state broke off negotiations with Nicolet Minerals, local television stations reported on 9/13/02 that the company was shutting down its Crandon office and laying off all its employees. However, the company would continue to pursue its mining permit with the DNR. Even before BHP Billiton acquired Nicolet Minerals, the parent company (Rio Algom) had already shut off the flow of new funds to the Crandon project. The recent layoffs simply confirm that the project is dead. Does the company really think that the DNR is going to grant a mining permit to a dead project?

Stranger things have happened in this 25 year old battle. We cannot afford to let up the opposition to this insane project. We must make this issue a focal point in the upcoming election for governor and plan to re-introduce both the bill to ban cyanide in mining and the no-special treatment for mines bill when the legislature reconvenes in January 2003. We will need your help to accomplish this.

WRPC is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and we depend on your continued support to stay involved in this mine battle. Please use the enclosed envelope to mail in your annual membership ($15 regular or $5 senior/low income). Thank you and stay tuned.

Sincerely,

Al Gedicks, Exec. Sec.

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