Presented By:

Julie Christiansen

Kennecott’s “Model” Mine Tests Find Significant Toxins

Flambeau Mining Co., a subsidiary of Kennecott Mineral Co., is showing high levels of toxic pollutants, 14 years after mining operations ceased. Flambeau was an open pit mine that operated from 1993-1997 and produced 181,000 tons of copper, 3.3 million ounces of silver and 334,000 ounces of gold. Kennecott has quoted Flambeau as a model of mineral removal with no evidence of environmental damage as well as “protecting the environment from adverse impact.” Officials from the DNR say they’ve been removing contaminated soil since 2003. The Water Resources Protection Council has filed a lawsuit in January 2011 to dispute Flambeau’s illegal dumping of toxic pollutants since 1998. The Wisconsin Mining Association has regarded the Flambeau mine as meeting the state standards of opening and closing under state law despite the non-existence of baseline water quality readings before mining even began.

Testing exposed 41% of 98 samples taken had two to four times more copper and zinc than standards allowed, set by the state to protect aquatic life. The DNR is deciding whether to classify the water as impaired, which would begin a process of cleaning up the stream, but in some cases would require property owners to pay for this procedure.

Philip Fauble, Mining Program Coordinator for the DNR stated “We weren’t aware of these elevated copper levels that were out there. Once they were detected, Flambeau took proactive steps to control this.” However, according to company documents, high copper levels were in fact discovered in 2003 on a rail spur during reconstruction of a roadway in the vicinity. Two feet of soil, about 7,400 tons were extracted. Flambeau’s reclamation plan includes removing about 1-acre pond area that has shown high levels of copper and zinc and has already spent about $20 million on reclaiming the property.

“It is important to note the elevated levels of toxicity, since this mine has been touted as an example that mining of this type can be done without degrading the environment,” says Emily Whittaker, Executive Director of the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve. Other communities in the Great Lakes basin are looking at this situation with much interest, since there has been a fervent increase in mineral exploration and extraction applications. “Our group would like to see how our state agencies react to this and if it would change their perspective on whether new projects will live up to everyone’s expectations.”

To read a full article on this subject: http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/tests-find-toxins-at-flambeau-mine-133051073.html

Volunteers make our program successful. We need people who are excited about taking part in the solution and who love to learn more about their natural surroundings. Our Water Quality Protection Program is largely based on river monitoring and helps us understand the health of the ecosystem. This training is open to the public and is free, although donations are always helpful. If you are interested in learning and attending this training, please rsvp by September 9, 2010 by sending an email to Emily@yellowdogwatershed.org or call the YDWP office at 906-345-9223. Space will be limited to sign up soon!

Who: YOU! and the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve

What: A Day of Fun and Learning How to Monitor a River

Where: The lovely Yellow Dog River

When: September 11, 2010 at 10am

Why: The river needs you!

How: We will show you!

Yellow Dog Riverkeeper teaches children along Salmon-Trout River

No matter what happens in this world, we will still be there continuing on with our mission. Our group started back in 1995 when the forests were being logged but no one was watching. Since then, we’ve done alot for a small group of local citizens, but that is of course what grassroots really is.
We recently were able to partner with a donor who will match any donation we receive this summer by 2! That means, if you donate $50, they will match it with $100. This is a huge opportunity for us so please help out with whatever you can! We have until the end of August to pile those donations up. And to make it a little sweeter for yourselves, anyone who donates $100 or more will be entered into a drawing for an afternoon cruise on Lake Superior on a historic schooner! Don’t pass this one up and forward this to your friends! Thanks for everything you do!

View from atop Eagle Rock by Chauncey Moran

Set up your tent, play games and take hikes to the river.
5:00pm Potluck Dinner
6:00pm Kids Open Mic
7:00pm Live music by Troy Graham, Gratiot Lake Road from Houghton, and others
dark – wee hours – jam around the campfire

Keg o’ beer available – accepting donations
Please bring weather appropriate clothing, potluck dish, table service for your family, beverage of choice, camp chair if you want, bug dope, etc…

The Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve is an environmental organization comprised of grassroots individuals who take environmental ethics to heart. We focus on informing the public about the watershed, conducting sound science, and protecting the resources from threats like sulfide mining. There are many pressures on the rivers and forests and we strive to balance the need for wild places with the necessities of humankind. This truly is one of the last unspoiled wilderness areas in the eastern United States.

Our watershed is located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in Baraga and Marquette County. It runs free and clean through wild country until it eventually reaches Lake Superior. This is how we want it to stay. Please take a look through our site and consider becoming a member or donating to help our mission.