Moran’s findings clearly are at odds with statements made by Ladysmith City Administrator Al Christianson in his commentary in the News Tribune on Sept. 18, headlined, "Real Flambeau Mine story free of problems." In an effort to advocate for the repeal of Wisconsin’s prove-it-first law for new mines, also known as the mining-moratorium law, Christianson characterized the Flambeau Mine as "environmentally sound," and he wrote that "mining-related problems … didn’t happen."
About that I agreed.
After reviewing the Flambeau Mining Company’s own water quality data, on file with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Moran concluded that, "Flambeau ground and surface water quality is being and has been degraded — despite years of industry public relations statements touting the success of the … operation. Rio Tinto said in a 2013 public relations release regarding the Flambeau Mine: ‘Testing shows conclusively that groundwater quality surrounding the site is as good as it was before mining.’ Unfortunately, the (Flambeau Mining Company) data show otherwise."
The company issued a report in December 2015 acknowledging 45 exceedances of groundwater quality standards in 17 different wells at the Flambeau site.
The water there is highly contaminated.
Moran’s findings were consistent with those of the Wisconsin DNR and EPA in 2012 when they listed a Flambeau River tributary that crosses a section of the mine site as "impaired" due to high copper and zinc concentrations linked to the Flambeau Mine.