NEWS RELEASE
August 2, 2018
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., 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.
There has never been a metallic sulfide mine that successfully avoided polluting area water supplies. Since 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 cities of Menominee, Michigan, and Marinette, Wisconsin, which in turn threatens human health. The fact that these risks remain unevaluated is evident when looking at 30 pages of conditions that are to be completed before startup.
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, and disturbs the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin’s ancient burial grounds.
The 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 Coalition represents the interests of individuals and groups concerned about the effects of the proposed Back Forty mine. The Coalition echoes the opposition voiced by groups such as River Alliance of Wisconsin, the Sierra Club, Patagonia, Freshwater Future, the Front 40 Group, numerous additional environmental organizations and municipalities, as well as thousands of concerned citizens living in Michigan and Wisconsin, in opposition to the proposed Back Forty project.
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.
Dale Burie, President
Coalition to SAVE the Menominee River, Inc.
P.O. Box 475
Marinette, WI 54143
(615) 512-3506 Cell phone
(715) 732-4211 Home
jointherivercoalition@gmail.com
jointherivercoalition.org