Flambeau Mine   

In Wisconsin, the Flambeau Mine has been held up as an example of a clean sulfide operation, but after partial closure, it is still polluting the Flambeau River, for the 13 years since mining operations ceased.  The mine was enormously profitable.

In July,  Wisconsin Resources Protection Council filed intent to sue to force the Wisconsin DNR to enforce water quality regulations and monitoring requirements.  The lawsuit holds the agency and company accountable for ongoing pollution at  Kennecott's Flambeau Mine are in violation of Wisconsin law, as well as the federal Clean Water Act.   (Note:  Kennecott is exploring heavily in Aitkin County, Minnesota.)

Press Release    June 18, 2009 -- Flambeau Mine Causing Illegal Water Pollution Conservationists announced intent to file lawsuit over water pollution from Flambeau Mine.  "The Flambeau Mine, located in Rusk County, Wisconsin, was an open pit metallic sulfide mine that produced 181,000 tons of copper, 334,000 ounces of gold and 3.3 million ounces of silver over its four‐year life span (1993‐1997). The Flambeau River formed the western boundary of the project area, and the pit itself was
constructed to within 150 feet of the river. In late 1997, the 32‐acre pit was backfilled with waste rock containing heavy metals, sulfides and sludge."  Similar to the case of Dunka pit pollution in Minnesota, the state agency made a deal on paper that allows the company to continue polluting, while precluding the citizens' lawsuit to enforce the law and stop the pollution.

Wisconsin media coverage

After permitting this polluting mine, the state of Wisconsin enacted legislation that was not intended as a moratorium on sulfide mining.  It added a requirement to applications for a permit to mine non-ferrous metals that the applicant show examples of a comparable mine that has operated for 10 years and another that have successfully been closed for 10 years without polluting the surrounding water.  In the 13 years since this law went into effect there have been no applications.  Why not?  Perhaps because no such examples exist.