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

October 25, 2003

Dear WRPC Member,

The new owner of the proposed Crandon mine can't seem to make up his mind about the permit process. Immediately after Gordon  Connor purchased Nicolet Minerals Company from BHP-Billiton last April, he announced that the newly-formed company, called the Northern Wisconsin Resource Group (NWRG) was "unequivocally committed to the continuation of the permiting process without any additonal delays." Less than a month later he requested that the DNR and the Army Corps of Engineers suspend the permit process so that he could complete his review of the project. Last month he reversed himself again and asked the DNR to continue its review of the mining permit application.

"Gordon R. Connor's flip flops and chaotic actions underscore the need for DNR rules that establish minimum qualifications for mining permit applicants The lack of a qualified applicant for  this major environmental threat is appalling and a major step backwards for the Wolf River and Wisconsin's environment," said Dave Blouin of the Sierra Club. Fortunately, as the result of a threatened lawsuit by WRPC, The Sierra Club, the Mining Impact Coalition, Protect Our Wolf River and the Green Bay and Wolf River chapters of Trout Unlimited, the DNR is about to start that rulemaking process. (See "Groups signal intent to sue DNR over Crandon mine," WSJ 6/20/03, enclosed).

The proposed rule on minimum qualifications for metallic mining permit applicants and operators will have direct application to the proposed Crandon mine project. The development of such rules will require that the state Metallic Mining Council be reactivated. The Council is a nine member advisory body whose members are appointed by the DNR Secretary. Representaives from local governments (Chuck Sleeter and Shirley Mills), the Mole Lake Ojibwe (Tina Van Zile) and both statewide and grassroots environmental organizations have been nominated to the DNR Secretary for appointment to this council. 

The latest timeline from the DNR indicates that a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the Crandon project may be released in January or February 2004. To request a copy of the Draft EIS, send your name and address to: Melissa DeVetter, Crandon Project Manager, DNR, 101 S. Webster St., Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707. The mining company pays duplicating expenses.

We're still pushing the cyanide and no special treatment bills and opposing environmental deregulation bills in the legislature. If the date on your mailing label is 9/03, 10/03 or 11/03 it means your annual membership is due ($15 regular or $5 senior/low income). A return envelope is provided. Thank you and stay tuned.

Sincerely,

Al Gedicks, Exec. Sec. 
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