08/20/2024
⚠️ Action Needed: The Oneida County Board will vote whether to entertain interests in mining activities on county owned land on Tuesday morning, 8/20 at 9:30am.
As you may remember, in 2018 the over 62% of the public voted by referendum to oppose metallic sulfide mining near the town of Lynne.
Tuesday, those who vote in favor of this resolution will be openly defying the directive of the people NOT to entertain mining interests on Oneida County public lands.
This vote is the first step in inviting mining companies to work in the county, including the Lynne deposit, located less than one mile from Wisconsin's highest quality watershed, the Willow Flowage. It is a sportsman's paradise, and as we know, high quality habitat is the best way to ensure healthy fish and wildlife populations.
We must make our representatives aware that we oppose risking the quality of our freshwater resources in Oneida County. Clean water is our most valuable resource.
Those who are able to rely on well water are fortunate to do so, especially in a time when many in the area must now depend on bottled water as forever chemicals silently contaminated the water beneath their feet. Why would we allow for more activities that risk our wells? However, a massive retaining pond of mine talings will not come into existence so quietly.
The impacts to the environment will not only threaten our water. The sound of equipment will drown out birdsong. Mining roads will scar the landscape far beyond the open pit created by the mine itself. Those roads will be used to carry away riches for company executives while the toxic waste will be literally left behind for the rest of us to tend to.
Just like most other mining sites in the country, the toxic tailings will only be the responsibility of the the mining company for a couple decades, after which maintenance or catastrophe costs fall to us, the tax payer. Take a tour of the mine in Ladysmith, WI. They will tell you, but only if you ask just right. Another detail they won't bring up on their own are the dollars being spent yearly to contain the toxic leakage being produced at the site. In their eyes this is the definition of a 'fully reclaimed mine site.'
So please, if you want to keep our waters safe, let your Oneida County Board supervisor know how you feel about starting up a mine in the place with Wisconsin's best water. Join us for Tuesday morning's meeting at the Oneida County Courthouse at 9:30am and let your voice be heard! 💪🌊 🚰 If you are unable to attend please send an email to your County Board Supervisor letting them know your opinion of the resolution 🙏
