Coalition to Save the River
Tax deductible
Coalition to Save the Menominee River, Inc. represents the interests of individuals and groups concerned about the effects of a proposed open pit sulfide mine just 50 yards from the bank of the Menominee River which flows into the Green Bay of Lake Michigan. This proposed mine is known as the Back Forty. The Coalition echoes the opposition voiced by groups such as River Alliance of Wisconsin, the Sierra Club, Freshwater Future, the Front 40 Group, numerous additional environmental organizations and municipalities, as well as thousands of concerned citizens living in Michigan and Wisconsin who will be affected by this potentially catastrophic project.
The Menominee River is the Boundary Water between Michigan and Wisconsin. Metallic sulfide mining near the river has the grave potential to impact surface and groundwater resources on both sides of the river and damage water quality of the municipal water supplies for the local citizens, threatening human health as well as the abundant wildlife in the area.
What is the Back Forty Mine?
The Back Forty Mine is proposed by Aquila Resources, a Canadian exploration company, who has intent to mine copper, gold, zinc, lead and silver from this site utilizing a process that involves cyanide due to the ore being low grade. Extracting the metals from the rock would be done onsite with liquids discharged into the Menominee River and ore waste rock known as "tailings" piled into tailing "pits" or "ponds". It is the process of extracting the metals that contaminates local waters and soils creating what is known as "acid mine" or "acid rock" drainage (AMD/ARD) that produces sulfuric acid (the same caustic substance used in car batteries) and leaches into the environment. Metals are found in rock /ore that is rich in iron sulfide, as long as this rock remains undisturbed in the ground it is safe but once the ground is disturbed, exposed to the elements and pulverized for extraction of the metals, sulfuric acid production begins Accompanying the acid mine drainage is the leachate of heavy metals, the most common of which are arsenic, manganese, mercury and cadmium which have been linked to various diseases including cancer.
In addition to water quality, degrading the Menominee River affects fish and other aquatic life, wildlife, tourism, property values of taxpayers on both sides of the river. This project would also disturb the Menominee Indian Tribe's place of creation and their 60 Islands Prehistoric Archaeological Complex which extends three miles on each side of the Menominee River in Wisconsin and Michigan.
The Coalition to SAVE the Menominee River, Inc. is represented by environmental attorneys Ted A. Warpinski of Davis & Kuelthau in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Bruce Wallace of Hooper Hathaway in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
The filing of a Petition For Contested Case Hearing in the State of Michigan has been announced by Dale Burie, President of the Coalition to SAVE the Menominee River, Inc., on August 2, 2018 challenging the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality’s decision to grant Aquila Resources a wetlands permit that allows metallic sulfide mining adjacent to the Menominee River.
The Coalition is in need of your assistance to cover the legal fees accruing on this journey to protect our worlds most valuable natural resource - water! Please donate today.
Thank you!
Coalition to SAVE the Menominee River, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that consists solely of volunteers; there are no salaries.
The Menominee River is the Boundary Water between Michigan and Wisconsin. Metallic sulfide mining near the river has the grave potential to impact surface and groundwater resources on both sides of the river and damage water quality of the municipal water supplies for the local citizens, threatening human health as well as the abundant wildlife in the area.
What is the Back Forty Mine?
The Back Forty Mine is proposed by Aquila Resources, a Canadian exploration company, who has intent to mine copper, gold, zinc, lead and silver from this site utilizing a process that involves cyanide due to the ore being low grade. Extracting the metals from the rock would be done onsite with liquids discharged into the Menominee River and ore waste rock known as "tailings" piled into tailing "pits" or "ponds". It is the process of extracting the metals that contaminates local waters and soils creating what is known as "acid mine" or "acid rock" drainage (AMD/ARD) that produces sulfuric acid (the same caustic substance used in car batteries) and leaches into the environment. Metals are found in rock /ore that is rich in iron sulfide, as long as this rock remains undisturbed in the ground it is safe but once the ground is disturbed, exposed to the elements and pulverized for extraction of the metals, sulfuric acid production begins Accompanying the acid mine drainage is the leachate of heavy metals, the most common of which are arsenic, manganese, mercury and cadmium which have been linked to various diseases including cancer.
In addition to water quality, degrading the Menominee River affects fish and other aquatic life, wildlife, tourism, property values of taxpayers on both sides of the river. This project would also disturb the Menominee Indian Tribe's place of creation and their 60 Islands Prehistoric Archaeological Complex which extends three miles on each side of the Menominee River in Wisconsin and Michigan.
The Coalition to SAVE the Menominee River, Inc. is represented by environmental attorneys Ted A. Warpinski of Davis & Kuelthau in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Bruce Wallace of Hooper Hathaway in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
The filing of a Petition For Contested Case Hearing in the State of Michigan has been announced by Dale Burie, President of the Coalition to SAVE the Menominee River, Inc., on August 2, 2018 challenging the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality’s decision to grant Aquila Resources a wetlands permit that allows metallic sulfide mining adjacent to the Menominee River.
The Coalition is in need of your assistance to cover the legal fees accruing on this journey to protect our worlds most valuable natural resource - water! Please donate today.
Thank you!
Coalition to SAVE the Menominee River, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that consists solely of volunteers; there are no salaries.
Organizer
Dale Burie
Organizer
Wausaukee, WI
Coalition To Save the Menominee River Inc
Registered nonprofit
Donations are typically 100% tax deductible in the US.
