Wisconsin Resources Protection Council

April 3, 2019

Dear WRPC Member and Friends of the Menominee River,

Aquila’s full-page ad in the March 2, 2019 edition of the Eagle Herald sought to reassure the public about the safety of the Back Forty’s proposed tailings storage facility in light of the recent Brazilian tailings dam disaster that killed over 200 people with an estimated 91 others still missing and presumed buried under mud. This is Brazil’s deadliest-ever mining accident. A steady stream of letters to the editor of the Eagle Herald have expressed serious public concerns about the safety of Aquila’s tailings dam design.

January 23, 2019

Dear WRPC Member and Friends of the Menominee River,

Aquila’s “Final Permit” isn’t Final at all

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) issued the “final permit” needed for Aquila’s Back Forty open pit mine in June 2018. Aquila spokesperson Dan Blondeau said the decision was “a major milestone” for the project that would allow the project to move forward.

However, instead of moving forward, the DEQ has determined that because the project footprint has expanded by 200 acres, including the enlargement of the tailings and waste rock structures, Aquila is required to submit a Mining Permit Amendment Application (MPAA) and an associated Environmental Impact Assessment Amendment (EIAA). The timing of this announcement and the difficulty of accessing the 904 pages of the application have created serious obstacles for citizens, tribal members and environmental groups wishing to participate in the review and public comment on Aquila’s latest mine plan.

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. 

July 13, 2017

Dear WRPC Member and Friends of the Menominee River,

On June 21, 2017 the Brown County Board of Supervisors voted 21-0 to oppose Aquila’s Back Forty metallic sulfide mine project. Brown County, the third largest county in Wisconsin, agreed with mine opponents that the risks of mine pollution in the Menominee River, which empties into Green Bay and eventually into Lake Michigan, outweigh any possible benefits from the proposed mine. Brown County joins Marinette and Menominee County, WI in urging the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to deny a mining permit for the project. Door County will consider a resolution against the project at their next meeting.

What You Should Know About Aquila Resources’ Back Forty Project

By Al Gedicks

Executive Secretary, Wisconsin Resources Protection Council

June 28, 2017

Aquila’s Back Forty Project is not accurately described in the Mine Permit Application (MPA) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

*Aquila Resources wants to develop a large open pit (2000 ft.wide, 2500 ft. long and 750 ft. deep) massive gold-zinc sulfide mine 150 feet from the Menominee River, encroaching upon the floodplain. Underground mining plans have not been disclosed to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) but could include mining under the Menominee River. Aquila’s permit application says the Life of Mine (LOM) operation is planned to be approximately 7 years but the Back Forty is actually described as a 16 year mine in every press release published by Aquila Resources.

July 5, 2017

Mr. Oskar Lewnowski, CIO

Orion Mine Finance Group

1211 Avenue of the Americas

Suite 3000

New York, NY  10036

Dear Mr. Lewnowski,

I am once again writing in regard to Orion’s 19% investment in Aquila Resources’ Back 40 metallic sulfide project in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Local and statewide opposition to this project has grown considerably since my last update (November, 2016) and should be of great concern to your shareholders.

ACTION ALERT: DIVEST FROM AQUILA RESOURCES’ BACK FORTY PROJECT !

TELL INVESTORS THIS PROPOSED OPEN PIT SULFIDE MINE NEXT TO THE MENOMINEE RIVER HAS NO ‘SOCIAL LICENSE TO OPERATE’

Aquila Resources has proposed a large open pit sulfide mine a mere 150 feet from the Menominee River (a major Lake Michigan tributary which forms the Wisconsin-Michigan border and flows into Green Bay). The mine footprint is located on the original tribal homeland of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin. The tribe is concerned about pollution of the Menominee River and the destruction of sacred sites.

January 27, 2017

Ontario Securities Commission

Inquiries Unit

20 Queen Street West

20^th floor

Toronto, Ontario M5H 358

Dear Sir or Madam:

We are writing regarding a possible case of fraud or misleading information by a company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The case concerns the false or contradictory statements made in Aquila Resources’ Back Forty mine permit application for an open pit gold and zinc sulfide mine to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ). 

September 8, 2016

Dear WRPC Member and Friends of the Menominee River,

In a surprise news release at the beginning of the Labor Day weekend on September 2, 2016, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) announced it was going to approve the mine permit for Aquila Resources’ metallic sulfide mine (the “Back Forty Project”) next to the Menominee River in Lake Township, Michigan. Newspaper headlines have described the announcement as a “draft mining permit” rather than a final decision on an actual mine permit. Nevertheless, Aquila’s stock value increased 27% on the Toronto Stock Exchange after news of the draft mining and pollution permits was announced.

To listen to the story, click HERE.

A proposed gold and zinc mine in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is drawing opposition from the Menominee Tribe of Indians.