From: Walt Bresette <bresette@win.bright.net>
Date: Sun, 13 Oct 1996 10:27:01 -0500
Subject: Paranoid Ramblings of White Pinemania
THE BIG PICTURE & WHITE PINE ACID MINE: It's a bad trip
The recently authorized sulfuric acid "solution mine" at White Pine,
Michigan fits into the larger "minerals district" scenario as documented
by Al Gedicks in his work "New Resource Wars." Like the many other mines
hoping to come on-line in the near future they, like the White Pine
mine, is in a massive sulfide ore body. Unlike the others, White Pine
has already been mined out and the metallic sulfide waste already is
polluting the environment. The acid solution mining is ostensibly
seeking to recover the remaining ore from the pillars of the abandoned
mine. However in talks with local folks it is becoming clear that this
may not be the case after all. Instead, the acid mining operation in
being developed as a disposal site for the acid generated as a
by-product of the smelting operation at White Pine; they have made
application for a new smelter with a capacity much larger than that
needed for the 900 million pounds of copper left in the abandoned mine.
The Smelter is the Issue
They don't need a smelter for a "solution mine," They do need a
"solution mine" for a smelter. With a regionally-based smelter, all of
the other planned mines will be more cost-effective. Rather than
shipping the ore to Canada or elsewhere, they than ship it a few miles
up to White Pine, Michigan. With an available regional smelter,
investors will be more likely to give the necessary go-ahead.
The Mining Moratorium is the Issue
This January the Wisconsin legislature will reconsider a moratorium on
the banning of metallic sulfide mining. If successful it will
effectively delay the "minerals district" for a few generations. And,
without ore to process at White Pine, there will be no need to do a
"full scale" solution mine. The solution mine is tied to the smelter;
the smelter is tied to other ore bodies; the developing of the other ore
bodies in the minerals district are largely in Wisconsin and the
moratorium will cut it off.
The Ceded Territory is the Issue
The Chippewa Treaty of 1842 which sold to the U.S. northern Wisconsin
and that portion of Michigan where White Pine is located is in the way
of both the White Pine solution mine and almost parallels the proposed
"minerals district." If the Chippewa assert their 1842 Treaty rights,
they become active players in the region's development. The Bad River
Chippewa rail system is the only current line to White Pine. Should they
retain control over this system they effectively cut off the only
lifeline to the mine; it will be constipated until other lines are
developed. Should they further assert their rights beyond the
reservation - throughout Ceded Territory - there is no way to have rail
systems to the smelter or to the mines without Chippewa permission.
The Actors are the Issue
In Wisconsin, the key player has been James Klauser. He is an expert
lobbyist for the Exxon minerals corporation. When this little hick
lawyer Tommy Thompson from Elroy, Wisconsin was put in as Governor, the
rigging of state government was a fait accomplait. Through Klauser, the
interests of the "minerals district" were accomplished: Thompson was
recreated as an innovative, trend-setting, pro-business and welfare
national character. Bedazzled by that, he let Klauser do what he wanted,
which was to first changed the reputation of the state as progressive,
then to weaken the laws which would prevented the minerals district.
He's accomplished both and is now being reassigned back to his old law
firm, probably as an Exxon lobbyist. His new task will be to defeat the
mining moratorium and weaken tribal resolve on treaty rights.
The International Cartel is the Issue
Klauser's Exxon is in partnership with Rio Algom, a Canada
multinational. Rio Algom is in partnership with INMET, a fellow Canadian
multinational - they are developing a new mine in Peru. INMET is in
partnership with BHP, an Australian based multinational - they are in
litigation over environmental disaster at their OK Tedi mine in New
Guinea. BHP is the supplier of sulfuric acid from their Arizona plant
which is railed to White Pine via the Bad River Chippewa Reservation;
BHP also is in the process of developing mining near the Mole Lake and
Crandon areas where Exxon/Rio Algom is seeking a metallic sulfide mine.
The sulfuric acid from BHP is railed via Wisconsin Central, Ltd., a
multinational rail line with holdings in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and
New Zealand. The negotiator for Wisconsin Central in the dispute with
Bad River is Richard White, a New Zealander who was brought in when the
rail line nearly blew up Wauyaweyga in central Wisconsin. Wisconsin
Central, a union busting railroad, has top officials who are key
advisors and contributors to Governor Tommy Thompson. Up until December
6th of this year, Thompson had as his key state aide James Klauser.
The Regulators are the Issue
Despite clear authority both the MDEQ (Michigan Department of
Environmental Quality - a new branch created by Michigan Governor John
Engler) and the U.S. EPA have failed in their stated duties to protect
the public and environment from White Pine effluents. White Pine has
breached a choride-laced brine aquifer which is flowing into the mine
but neither agency is holding them accountable; this brine will fill the
entire mine in 40 years, flow into the Mineral River and then flow five
mile north into Lake Superior killing all living organism in its path
including up to 50 acres of Lake Superior. White Pine has produces 11
square miles of metallic sulfide waste which is polluting the Mineral
River and adjoining areas; there is no reclamation plan for this
tailings area which is so huge it can be seen from the space shuttle.
Prior to forced shut down, White Pine was the heaviest loader of mercury
(1000 pounds annually) from their now abandoned smelter ("They were
never in compliance," EPA, Ashland hearings). EPA, which can't decided
if they will allow 11 billion gallons of acid solution to be stored
permanently into a leaky, toxic hole five miles from Lake Superior,
announced on October 3 that the dilapidated rail line across the Bad
River Chippewa Reservation was safe for sulfuric acid transport.
Et Cetera
The above issues are incomplete but it certainly appears from here that
there is a huge, multinational cartel which has control of state and
federal regulators with designs to develop a minerals district in the
upper Great Lakes. The barriers were progressive state government and
laws, but now appeared weakened sufficiently. The remaining barriers are
new initiatives such as a moratorium and old problems like Indians and
treaties. Let's hope these ramblings are the fantasy of a paranoid aging
hippie. If not, if we're not wrong, then the people and the Great Lakes
are in for a hell of ride in the next few decades. Please give Al Gore
a call.