Wisconsin Resources Protection Council

September 1, 2017

Dear WRPC Member and Friends of the Menominee River,

Industrial Acid Mining Bill Proposed

Senators Tom Tiffany (R-Hazelhurst) and State Rep. Bob Hutton (R-Brookfield) have introduced the Mining for America Act, Senate Bill 395, also known as “Tiffany’s Industrial Acid Mining Bill.” The legislation would repeal Wisconsin’s Prove it First Sulfide Mining Moratorium Law and ease mining regulations to facilitate Aquila Resources’ metallic sulfide prospects in Marathon (the Reef project) and Taylor (the Bend project) counties. Not surprisingly, Aquila consulted with Sen. Tiffany over the language of the bill (http://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2017/08/17/bill-end-moratorium-mining-introduced/578570001/) and http://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2017/08/22/bill-would-end-wisconsin-moratorium-sulfide-mining-create-easier-path-ease-restrictions-future-minin/587792001/

by Paul Srubas

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

August 24, 2017

MENOMINEE, Mich. — On a recent, rainy Friday evening, a small crowd of protesters had already dispersed after a few hours of trying to disrupt the weekly fish fry at the popular Ogden Club in downtown Menominee.

The tavern’s second floor no longer serves as office space for the employees of Aquila Resources, but, much to the annoyance of proprietor Robin Quigley, that hasn’t stopped the protesters from gathering outside every week.

by Bill Van Lopik, Community columnist

Post-Crescent, Appleton-Fox Cities

August 12, 2017

One of our most precious resources with living in northeast Wisconsin is our fresh water. We live in the Great Lakes Basin, which contains literally 20 percent of all the fresh water in the world.

After years of abusing this resource by dumping of toxic chemicals into our waterways, we have helped our lakes and waterways make a strong rebound through citizen, governmental and corporate action to clean up our water.

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.

Listen to Wisconsin Public Radio’s segment on the proposed Back Forty project, on the Menominee River:  https://www.wpr.org/shows/whats-ahead-proposed-back-forty-mine

March 23, 2017

Dear WRPC Member and Friends of the Menominee River,

On December 28, 2016, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) approved two of the four required permits for the Back Forty proposed sulfide mine – the Nonferrous Metallic Mineral Mining Permit and the Michigan Air Use Permit. The DEQ is still reviewing the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit and the wetlands permit.