Wisconsin Resources Protection Council

December 10, 2010

Dear WRPC Member,

In June 2009 WRPC notified Kennecott and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) of its intent to sue over water pollution caused by the Flambeau Mine, near Ladysmith, Wisconsin, unless the pollution and related issues were fully addressed (see www.wrpc.net for full details and news coverage). One of WRPC’s gravest concerns is that the industry’s false claim of environmental success at the Flambeau Mine site is sending the wrong message to citizens and Tribes throughout the Great Lakes Region who are faced with new mining proposals (see Coleman and Chiriboga’s overview enclosed). Indeed, the Flambeau mine has become a fraudulent “calling card” for the mining industry.

Proposed Lynne mining sparks new debate over ongoing issue

Deborah Bedolla, The Lakeland Times

September 14, 2010

It has been more than a year since Tamerlane Ventures, a publicly-traded international mining firm, first expressed interest in exploring a sulfide ore deposit near the town of Lynne.

The Oneida County Mining Oversight Committee has since been considering opening a public bid for leasing mineral rights to allow exploratory studies. The committee’s consideration has been, in the words of chairman Dave Hintz, “slow and deliberate” in the face of the myriad technical, economic and environmental issues the proposal raises.

A well-attended July 24 information session in Lynne brought some of those issues before the public, but it was only the beginning of a process that is likely to become contentious quickly.

“It’s going to be extremely controversial and it’s going to be extremely long term. It’s not going to happen quickly, if at all,” Dan Kuzlik, the UW-Extension professor who facilitated the information session and is serving as liaison for the committee, said.

Hintz underscored the long-term nature of the conversation at a committee meeting last week: “Mining is not going to happen in Oneida County for some time. We’re in the early stages of this process.”