Anti-mining groups say they’re getting ready to sue the state of Wisconsin and a mining company over pollution near a former mine at Ladysmith.

The Flambeau copper and gold mine was open for four years during the 1990s, and stopped mining operations in 1997. The company says the process of reclaiming the land is complete. But some longtime foes of the mine say it continues to pollute nearby groundwater with manganese, and the Flambeau River with high amounts of copper.

Attorney Glen Stoddard represents the Wisconsin Resources Protection Council. He has filed a notice that his group will sue the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Flambeau Mining within 30 days. That’s if the state doesn’t properly regulate the reclamation process and impose sanctions on the company that include more water monitoring, cleanup and fines.

But Flambeau Mining reclamation manager Jana Murphy said the claims appear to be without merit, and that the mine is not breaking the law.

The Wisconsin DNR says it is reviewing the new documents that criticize the Flambeau mine, and DNR officials said they’re not in a position to comment.

Original Article

A lawyer representing the Wisconsin Resources Protection Council says monitoring data shows runoff from the Flambeau Mine is polluting a nearby stream and the Flambeau River. The Flambeau Mine near Ladysmith was an open pit metallic sulfide mine. It produced copper, gold, and silver between 1993 and 1997.

The conservation group says crews back-filled the pit with waste rock in late 1997. When it closed, the DNR said the Flambeau Mining Company met all the closing requirements and that it continues to monitor the condition of the site to this day.

Original Article