The proposed Back 40 Mine will poison Menominee County waters, Greens agreed at a recent State Membership Meeting for the Green Party of Michigan (GPMI) held in Marquette.

"The Back 40 Mine would involve sulfide ore mining only 60 to 100 feet from the Menominee River and would create an 83-acre open pit mine over 750 feet deep as well as 152 acres of tailings," says Aimee Cree Dunn, a GPMI officer from the Upper Peninsula. "It will impact not only the land and waters of the U.P., but also those of bordering Wisconsin."

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

November 6, 2017

Green Party of Michigan

www.MIGreenParty.org

CONTACT:

Aimee Cree Dunn, 906-942-7076, adunn@nmu.edu

Michigan Greens Oppose Poisoning of Menominee River by Proposed Back 40 Mine

"Metallic sulfide mining creates acid mine drainage that can persist for thousands of years, destroying entire aquatic ecosystems and leaving a lasting heavy burden for taxpayers," Aimee says. "And the fact is, there's never been such a mine that didn't seriously pollute its surrounding waters. This kind of mining threatens our traditional lifestyle of hunting, fishing, and gathering from a healthy land," Aimee adds. "It threatens a sustainable heritage that goes back centuries."

Menominee County resident and mother Regina Chaltry states: "The local communities around the the Menominee River and Green Bay are joining together to stop this mine from happening, which is evident by the number of surrounding counties, cities, towns and Tribal governments who have passed resolutions against the Back 40."

"Wisconsin passed a moratorium on metallic sulfide ore mining in the state in 1998 after enormous pressure from people all across Wisconsin on the pro-mining administration of Tommy Thompson," GPMI member Linda Cree adds. "Unfortunately, efforts to repeal the moratorium have been launched recently by those hoping to develop a new mining district extending from northern Wisconsin and across the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan."

Regina Chaltry points out that the moratorium doesn't ban mining. "All mining corporations really must do is prove that sulfide mining can be done without polluting ground and surface water. If this advanced technology existed, then that law would not even be an issue."

"Also known as the 'Prove It First' law, the mining law in Wisconsin has helped protect their North Woods for nearly 20 years," Cree says. "In 2006, GPMI passed a resolution calling for a similar sulfide mining moratorium in Michigan. Like Wisconsin, we're a water-rich state that could be devastated by metallic sulfide mining and the inevitable pollution it entails."

GPMI's call for a Wisconsin-style moratorium says: "No metallic sulfide mining will occur in Michigan until it can be proven that one metallic sulfide mine in the United States or Canada has operated for 10 years and been closed for 10 years without contaminating the groundwater or surface water."

For more information on the Green Party of Michigan, its values, and its platform -- and how you can get involved -- please visit the party's Website at www.MIGreenParty.org, or the migreens Facebook page.

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