Conflict With Mining Enterprises in Northern Wisonsin: Environment vs. Economy

In the backyard there are cross country ski courses, meandering creeks, waterfalls, natural caves for swimming and caverns, wetlands for wild hunting, fly fishing for trout, mountains and valleys. The days of canoeing and hiking are adventurous and are near your own house. Due to the cool wind and massive snow cover, floods are frequently generated near the upper peninsula, but due to the lake effect of Lake Superior there is no dull weather weather.

In the past, a large amount of iron and iron shale was mined in northern Minnesota, but sulfide mining has never been done. This is a proposal made near Babbitt and Minnesota State Lake Hoyt. This is a new type of mine that has never been done in Minnesota. The purpose of this mine is to find forms of copper, nickel, and platinum and palladium. This new form of mining poses a serious threat to the environment, nature and wildlife around these mines. These mines are not recommended on BWCA or BWCA, but this is a protected area of ​​higher level national forest, or the largest and most polluted Lake Superior in the Great Lakes, but faced serious problems It is. Risk in case these mine recommendations are accepted. However, mining companies simply do not think this is a problem. They think it will help restore the regional economy and create more employment, but many locals are skeptical.

Traditional mining supplies large quantities of poor economic resources and precious metals, but it also poses serious environmental hazards. According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, all forms of mining such as open pitting, underground mining, ISL mining, heap leaching mining, salt water mining, etc., are not properly managed or do not comply with current regulations cause various environmental problems there is a possibility. For example, in the case of underground mining, the most obvious danger is collapse, but far above environmental damage. Once the ore is removed, the resulting extraction waste is often very acidic. Otherwise it is poisonous to land and water. Even non-traditional mining technologies such as ISL leaching minerals have environmental flaws despite safety advantages.

Mining has a reputation of being harmful to the environment. This reputation is historically worthwhile. Many mine projects in history have had devastating effects on the local environment. However, in modern times, the development and implementation of international standards for environmental protection has greatly advanced, so the environment deterioration of today's mines is largely (but not completely) relieved. Especially in the mining of Colombian emeralds, the industry has advanced by accepting social responsibility. In addition to complying with international standards for environmental protection, Colombia Jade Mine actively protects the rights of workers. In drilling tunnels, special machines (rebar and oxidation etc) that meet the highest safety standards are used.