Kennecott faces lawsuit over pollution at Wisconsin mine

A closed down Kennecott metallic sulfide mine in northern Wisconsin is leaching potentially toxic metals into ground and surface waters in violation of the Clean Water Act, according to a citizens lawsuit filed in federal court last week.


Keweenaw Now reports that the suit filed by the Wisconsin Resources Protection Council and the Center for Biological Diversity charges Kennecott with polluting the Flambeau River with contaminated storm water run-off from the former mine site.

“For example, copper levels in a creek receiving runoff from the mine site have ranged from 11 to 91 parts per billion since 1998 (this is Kennecott’s own data), whereas Wisconsin’s chronic toxicity water quality standard (meant to protect fish and other aquatic species) is three parts per billion,” [Plaintiff Laura Gauger] notes. “The groundwater is dirty as well. A well within the back-filled pit has registered manganese levels as high as 42,000 parts per billion (again, this is Kennecott’s own data), whereas the drinking water standard for manganese is 50 parts per billion. This is of no small concern. Excessive exposure to manganese has been associated with causing nerve damage similar to that seen in Parkinson’s disease. Unfortunately, Kennecott has not commented on any of this. Instead we are shown pictures of wildflowers waving in the wind.”

Kennecott, a Rio Tinto subsidiary, is in the process of developing a nickel and copper sulfide mine northwest of Marquette on the Yellow Dog Plain.

The mine is opposed by groups that argue it is likely to contaminate area the watershed, including nearby Lake Superior, with acid mine drainage.

In public presentations Kennecott has represented the Flambeau Mine as an example of a sulfide mine that has been successfully reclaimed.