In upcoming weeks, Save the Wild U.P. will participate in Save the Menominee River Speaking Tour, a series of informational forums organized to educate the public regarding Aquila Resources’ Back Forty project, a risky open pit sulfide mine proposed for the bank of the Menominee River (near Stephenson, MI). Grassroots opposition to Aquila’s proposed metallic sulfide mine brought together a coalition of concerned local citizens, the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, and other environmental groups in both Michigan and Wisconsin.
Save the Menominee River forums are designed to educate the public about the cultural, environmental and economic impacts of the proposed mine. “This mine is not a done deal, “ said Ron Henriksen, spokesperson for the Menominee River Front 40 environmental group. The Michigan DEQ is currently reviewing Aquila’s mining permit application.
Speakers from a broad coalition of groups, including the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, Save the Wild U.P., the River Alliance of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Resources Protection Council, the Menominee River Front 40, Cedar Tree Institute, Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve, sport-fishing groups, and others will present information about mining impacts from diverse perspectives.
The public will have an opportunity to ask questions and express their concerns about the Aquila’s proposed open pit mine, which includes milling operations, with cyanide processing of ore and the storage of waste rock and tailings, and an 800 foot deep pit, only 100 feet from the Menominee River. All forums are free and open to the public.
“Aquila Resources has presented a very rosy picture of how great this mine will be for the local community, but it is not necessarily an accurate and complete picture, “ said Guy Reiter, a member of the Menominee Conservation Commission and a tribal member. “This speaking tour will raise questions and concerns that have not been part of the public conversation about this project to date. This conversation needs to happen before any decisions are made about permitting this mine,” said Reiter.
Save the Menominee River Speaking Tour will take place on the following dates, in the following venues:
- Monday May 9th, at 6:30 pm CDT
University of Wisconsin-Marinette, 750 West Bay Shore St.
Marinette, Wisconsin - Tuesday May 17th, at 6:30 pm CDT
Menominee VFW Hall, 3937 10th St.
Menominee, Michigan - Wednesday May 25th, at 10 am CDT
MSU Extension Annex (S904 Hwy 41 (“the Stephenson Annex”)
Stephenson, Michigan
An additional informational forum, featuring speakers Al Gedicks of the Wisconsin Resources Protection Council, and Guy Reiter discussing the recent Menominee River Water Walk, and the Menominee Tribe’s opposition to the Back Forty Mine, has been scheduled for Saturday May 21, from 12:30 pm to 5 pm, at the McMillan Memorial Library, 490 E. Grand Avenue in Wisconsin Rapids, WI. The forum begins with a potluck. For more information, contact Barb at 262-408-7958.