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EarthWINS Daily 5.1
October 4, 2000
Contents
1. EarthWINS Daily Returns
2. URGENT ACTION: Oct 6 Day of Solidarity for the U'wa
3. WISCONSIN: Not Dead Yet - The Crandon Mine
a. Fundraiser, Oct. 5 in Milwaukee for Town of
Nashville
b. Nashville Lawsuit Hearing Oct 19 10am in Crandon
c. Campaign to Ban Cyanide in Mining Requests Candidate
Pledge their Support
d. Noranda drops bid for Rio Algom
e. Duluth News Tribune: Nicolet Minerals to restore
wetland
4. WISCONSIN: Transmission Line = Crandon Mine Powerline
5. WISCONSIN: DNR Permits Perrier Wells Against Majority
of Local Citizens
a. Concerned Citizens of Newport respond to DNR
Permit for Perrier Wells
b. Garvey to sue DNR over well approval
6. WISCONSIN: Fox River Cleanup
a. Oct 25 Important Public Hearing on the Fox River
Cleanup
b. GB Press Gazette: PCB dredging on Fox River
moves forward
7. EDITORIAL: Bush, Cheney: all oiled up
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
October 4, 2000
Alice McCombs <EarthWINS-Daily@earthwins.com>
For Immediate Release
For Wide Distribution
For more information contact Alice McCombs 715-524-5998 <EarthWINS-Daily@earthwins.com>
EarthWINS Daily, an email newsletter that provides information about unsafe mining around the world, begins posting issues again today. The newsletter has expanded its mission to include anti-globalization efforts.
Visitors to EarthWINS Daily website at http://www.earthwins.com/ewd/index.html can read the current issue and follow links to all 1999 and 1998 issues.
EarthWINS Daily is a project of EarthWINS, an online environmental organization in Shawano, WI. EarthWINS was the first grassroots organization in Wisconsin to post email newsletters about the proposed Crandon Wolf River mine to the Internet. From 1995 through 1999, EarthWINS Daily posted over 500 newsletters containing 15-30 print pages in each issue. EarthWINS is in the process of indexing and archiving all previous issues.
Issues of EarthWINS Daily can also be obtained by subscription to its listserv. To subscribe send an email to EarthWINS-Daily-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Submissions are welcome and can be emailed to EarthWINS-Daily@earthwins.com or by joining the listserv.
For more information contact Alice McCombs 715-524-5998 <EarthWINS-Daily@earthwins.com>
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
2. URGENT ACTION: Oct 6 Day of Solidarity for the U'wa
Date: Tue, 3 Oct 2000 23:13:43 -0400
From: "John C. Stauber" <stauber@compuserve.com>
URGENT ACTION - DAY OF SOLIDARITY - HELP THE U'WA
From Rainforest Action Network, http://www.ran.org
For the complete UA post, see http://www.colombiasupport.net/200010/uwa.asp
The drilling machinery has arrived to U'wa territory. Lines of thousands of military personnel protected the equipment from Saravena to Cedeno. The roadway was blocked by the military thus impeding the mobilization of the people in the region. More than 80 trucks transported the machinery protected by the military.
The Colombian government put out a huge amount of economic resources and military personnel to give security to Occidental, meanwhile trampling the U'wa's rights to their own land, recognized by the Royal Land Deeds law of the 1600's, which constitutionally gives the U'wa both soil and sub-soil rights.
October 6th day of solidarity!
Let's shut down Gore 2000 campaign centers all across the country with concerted acts of mass non-violent civil disobedience!
Join the U'wa in putting your body on the line!
Start mobilizing today! Call Gore's office! Write a Letter to the newspaper today! Organize a pre-emptive vigil, demonstration or non-violent direct action today! Whether your group organizes civil disobedience, guerrilla theater, leafleting or a lively rally it doesn't matter. What does matter is that all of us stand together to let Al Gore know that he needs to take action for the U'wa!
see http://www.colombiasupport.net/200010/uwa.asp
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
3. WISCONSIN: Not Dead Yet - The Crandon Mine
No, the proposed Crandon Wolf River mine is not dead. The permitting process continues against the wishes of Wisconsin citizens. Although Rio Algom, the parent company of Nicolet Minerals Company, is for sale, Nicolet representatives maintain the project will move forward. See "Merger bid won't affect mine plans, officials say" at http://www.jsonline.com/news/state/aug00/mine30082900a.asp
For more information about the Crandon mine visit www.nocrandonmine.com, www.treatyland.com, www.miningimpacts.net, and www.wrpc.net
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
a. Fundraiser, Oct. 5 in Milwaukee for Town of Nashville
Mining Impact Coalition of Wisconsin
Hosts Nashville Legal Defense Fund Raiser
Date: Tuesday, September 26, 2000
Linda Sturnot <frankesturnot@msn.com>
To: Wisconsin News Media
Contact: Dave Blouin, Coordinator, Mining Impact Coalition of Wisconsin
(608) 233-8455, Email: burroak15@aol.com
Linda Sturnot, Vice-President, Mining Impact Coalition of Wisconsin
(414) 421-9462, Email: frankesturnot@msn.com
On Thursday evening, October 5th, the Mining Impact Coalition of Wisconsin
will host a Legal Defense Fund Raiser for the Town of Nashville, Wisconsin
which is being sued by Nicolet Minerals for rescinding their Local
Agreement
with the mining company.
The fund raiser is scheduled from 6:00 - 11:00 p.m. at Derry Hagerty's
(Irish Pub & Grill) located at 5328 W. Bluemound Road, Milwaukee.
All
proceeds are tax deductible and will go to the Town of Nashville Legal
Defense fund to help stop the Crandon mine.
Entertainment begins at 6:00 p.m. and includes Irish Gaelic music by
Ceol
Cairde, a modern dance "The River Runs Red" choreographed by Christine
Coleman, Native American flute by Willie Harris, Oneida Nation, a Wolf
River
Honor Song and tribute to the late Menominee Nation activist Ingrid
Washinawatok by Wade Wiciwen Apis-Mahwaew Fernandez, and fusion music
by
40-A-Piece.
At 7:00 p.m., Phil Emmling, VP of Conservation for the Federation of
Fly
Fishers/Great River Council of Wisconsin will present "Water Quality
and
You - Perceptions and Advocacy". Phil works extensively with
citizens
evaluating and developing physical, chemical and biological stream
assessment tools for the preservation & restoration of streams
by citizen
volunteers.
At 8:30 p.m., the Mining Impact Coalition of Wisconsin will present
an
Awards Ceremony. Recipients of the Mining Impact Coalition 2000
Awards
include; Ken Fish, Director, Treaty Rights & Mining Impacts, Menominee
Nation; Zoltan Grossman, Midwest Treaty Network and Wolf Watershed
Educational Project, Debra McNutt, Midwest Treaty Network and Wolf
Watershed
Educational Project; Herb Buettner, President, Wolf River Chapter,
Trout
Unlimited, Genevieve Buettner, Wild Wolf Inn, and Chuck Sleeter, Joanne
Tacopina, Jan Olson, Duane Marshall, and Robert Van Zile, Board Members,
Town of Nashville.
The Local Agreement was entered into by Nashville's former town board
on
December 6, 1996, in the face of overwhelming public opposition and
following a series of 15 illegally closed town board meetings held
by
Nashville's former town board on the advice of its former attorneys,
Cook &
Franke, S.C. This led to a popular revolt in Nashville
in April, 1997,
whereby the former town board of Nashville was ousted and replaced
by
Nashville's current town board, including Chairman Chuck Sleeter and
Town Supervisors;
Mole Lake Sokaogon Chippewa Robert VanZile, and Duane Marshall.
The Nashville Town Board hopes the court will grant a motion for summary
judgement, upholding the rescission of the Local Agreement and declaring
the
Local Agreement unconscionable. The decision summary judgement
hearing has
been scheduled for Thursday, October 19th, at 10:00 a.m. at the Crandon
Court House in Forest County.
According to Dave Blouin, Coordinator of Mining Impact Coalition, "the
Nashville Fundraiser is a way to raise money in support of the town's
legal
defense and to return democracy to Nashville".
Linda Sturnot, Vice President of the Mining Impact Coalition of Wisconsin
said the mine permitting process has dragged on far too long.
"Since Exxon
first discovered the ore body in 1975, the mining industry has failed
to
convince regulators, the Tribes, technical experts, and environmentalists
that they can operate this mine safely. Wisconsin citizens simply
will not
allow any environmental degradation of our water resources or the
desecration of Indian land - and we will not give up until this project
is
dead". Without the local agreement, there is no Crandon mine.
Nicolet Minerals is requesting a state permit to extract 55 million
tons of
ore over a 30-year period. The mine site is located at the headwaters
of the
pristine Wolf River and adjacent to the Mole Lake Sokaogon Chippewa's
sacred
wild rice beds. The Crandon mine has been a highly controversial
project,
which has brought together Indian tribes and environmentalists in an
unprecedented and highly effective coalition.
The event is co-sponsored by: Wolf Watershed Educational Project, River
Alliance of Wisconsin, Sierra Club, Wisconsin Stewardship Network,
Northern
Thunder, Environmentally Concerned Citizens of Lakeland Areas (ECCOLA),
Clean Water Action Council, UW-Milwaukee WISPIRG, Wisconsin Citizen
Action,
Wisconsin's Environmental Decade, Protect Our Wolf River (POWR), Save
Our
Unique Lands (SOUL), Wisconsin Resources Protection Council, North
Woods
Economic Development Project, Water Keepers of Wisconsin, Root River
Stewardship Council, Midwest Treaty Network, EarthWINS, Wisconsin Greens,
Rush County Citizen Action Group, and others.
The Mining Impact Coalition is a 501©(3) non-profit organization
committed
to research and education about the social, economic, and environmental
impacts of metallic and non-metallic mining. For more information,
contact:
Linda Sturnot at (414) 443-4569 or Dave Blouin, (608) 233-8455
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
b. Nashville Lawsuit Hearing Oct 19 10am in Crandon
Date: Wed, 20 Sep 2000 11:40:12 EDT
From: mtn@igc.org (Zoltan Grossman)
The court hearing in the NMC v. Nashville case before Judge Geske for
October 19, 2000
at 10:00 a.m. The location of the hearing will be the Forest
County Courthouse in Crandon.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
c. Campaign to Ban Cyanide in Mining Requests Candidate Pledge their Support
For information about the Wisconsin Campaign to Ban Cyanide in Mining
see
http://www.alphacdc.com/treaty/cyanide.html
The Wisconsin Campaign to Ban Cyanide in Mining recently sent requests to all candidates for the Wisconsin State Legislature asking for their support for a prohibition on the use of Cyanide in Wisconsin mining. The text of the pledge letter follows.
Wisconsin Campaign to Ban Cyanide in Mining (CBCM)
Wolf Watershed Educational Project/Midwest Treaty Network
731 State Street
Madison, WI 53703
Hotline (800) 445-8615
Tel/Fax (608) 246-2256
E-mail mtn@igc.org
www.treatyland.com
Dear Candidate,
We are writing to ask you to pledge your support for a prohibition on the use of Cyanide in Wisconsin mining. As you may know, a bill (AB 936) was briefly introduced at the end of last session. A new draft of the bill will be introduced in January of 2001. In the coming months we will be initiating a public education campaign about the positions of all legislative candidates on this issue, including a scorecard we will release in October. Please review the evidence carefully and then sign and return the Pledge to show your commitment to ban the use of cyanide if you are elected.
The quality of Wisconsin's forests, wetlands and waters are threatened by mining proposals across our Northwoods, including Rio Algom's proposed Crandon mine. A disastrous spill of cyanide-laced mining wastes in Europe earlier this year destroyed much of the Tisza and Danube rivers' ecosystems in Hungary and Yugoslavia. The list of recent cyanide related mining disasters in the U.S. alone includes spills in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and South Dakota. The Crandon proposal includes the use of up to 20 tons of cyanide per month. Other new mining proposals, especially those for precious metals like gold and silver, would likely wish to use cheap and toxic cyanide to process ores too.
Existing Wisconsin laws are inadequate to protect our lakes and rivers. Our state mining laws have many loopholes, including some which give the DNR the ability to waive health and safety standards at the request of mining companies. Rio Algom is already asking the DNR for exemptions to state law. Yet Rio Algom and other mining companies do not need to use cyanide in mining; there are many alternatives available.
Other states and countries are getting wise. The state of Montana banned the use of cyanide for mining in 1998, and last month, the Czech government did the same. Wisconsin's residents, and fish and wildlife deserve to have the strongest environmental standards when considering whether mining should take place. Unfortunately our laws are not the strongest.
We call on you to pledge your support to this common sense response to the threat of cyanide contamination of our lakes, rivers, and drinking water. Please respond by October 6. You may return your signed pledge to the address on the left, or call Dave Blouin at 608-233-8455 (email: burroak15@aol.com) for more information.
Thank you for your time and consideration of this important issue.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
d. Noranda drops bid for Rio Algom
Date: Tue, 03 Oct 2000 19:51:23 -0500
From: Zoltan Grossman <mtn@igc.org>
Sender: owner-wisc-eco@igc.apc.org
Subject: Noranda drops bid for Rio Algom
For background see Bidding War for Rio Algom
http://www.alphacdc.com/treaty/noranda.html
This leaves the South African company BILLITON,
headquartered in London, as the only company
planning to buy out the Crandon mine owner Rio Algom.
NORANDA DECLINES TO BID FOR RIO ALGOM
Toronto, Ontario, October 3, 2000 -- Noranda Inc. announced today that
after conducting a full and thorough due diligence review of the operations
and assets of Rio Algom Limited and discussions with its partner, Codelco,
it will not be proceeding with its bid to acquire the outstanding shares
of
Rio Algom.
"The information gathered during due diligence, and our subsequent
analysis, suggests an increased bid would not meet our investment threshold,"
stated David Kerr, President and CEO of Noranda Inc. "We have a commitment
to
our shareholders to be disciplined in our investment decisions and
accordingly we will not be proceeding with an offer."
"In any event, we look forward to building on the excellent working
relationships established with Codelco which will no doubt lead to
future opportunities to work together," Kerr added.
In the absence of a new offer, Noranda intends to tender its 5.4 million
shares in Rio Algom to Billiton plc. On that basis, Noranda will receive
proceeds of $146 million and recognize a pre-tax gain of approximately
$48 million.
"Noranda remains focused on its objective of creating value and growing
the company through the operation, acquisition and discovery of high-quality
mining and metallurgical assets, which may include using the proceeds
to
buy back Noranda shares under a normal course issuer bid. We will also
continue to evaluate other opportunities," added Kerr.
Noranda Inc. is a leading international mining and metals company with
more than 30 mining and metallurgical operations and projects under
development in 8 countries. Noranda is one of the world's largest producers
of zinc and
nickel and is a significant producer of copper, primary and fabricated
aluminum, lead, silver, gold, sulfuric acid and cobalt. Noranda is
also
a major recycler of secondary copper, nickel and precious metals. Noranda
employs over 17,000 people. It is listed on The Toronto Stock Exchange
(NOR).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
e. Nicolet Minerals to restore wetland; Mining company works with Ducks Unlimited in venture.
October 4, 2000, Duluth News Tribune see
http://www.duluthnews.com/today/dnt/local/mine.htm
Al Gedicks of Wisconsin Resources Protection Council is quoted in the article:
"Al Gedicks of La Crosse, executive secretary of the Wisconsin Resources
Protection Council and a critic of the mining company, called the wetlands
project ``purely a public relations sleight of hand'' that has nothing
to do with
the ecosystem of Forest County.
Nicolet Minerals would do serious ecological damage in Forest County
and
``they are telling the public, `Look how virtuous we are because we
are
doing more than we are required to do in some other ecosystem,' ''
Gedicks
said."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
4. WISCONSIN: Arrowhead Transmission Line = Crandon Mine Powerline
Note: For more information about the proposed transmission line visit
SOUL's website at
www.wakeupwisconsin.com
and www.treatyland.com
Date: Sun, 17 Sep 2000 20:34:22 -0500
From: Zoltan Grossman <mtn@igc.org>
Proof of mine-line connection
The PSC document below is a "smoking gun" that proves
a link between the line and the mine. Note the very
truthful last line.....the reason SOUL and WWEP are
working together. PSCW means the regulatory agency
Public Service Commission of Wisconsin and WPSC
means the utility Wisconsin Public Service
Corporation.
Zoltan
Subject: Strategic Energy Assessment
Date: Sun, 17 Sep 2000 14:16:48 -0500
From: linda ceylor <cen20773@centuryinter.net>
This is from the draft Strategic Energy Assessment (SEA), 05-ES-100.
This document was sent out on June 28, 2000. The public hearing
on the
document will be Sept. 18 with Sept. 28 being the deadline for
written comments.
You may not know that the SEA replaced the Advance Plans for the
utilities outward planning processes. This plan is part of the
electrical restructuring put forth in Legislative Act 204. The
SEA is
not as binding or restrictive as the previous Advance Plans.
The
planning range is 3 years out, and the planning is really a formality,
nothing binding such as the Advance Plans for establishing needs and
solutions. The following is from Appendix F, page n:
Forest County (WPSC)
Venus-Crandon (Table 209, Line 10)
In 1995 WPSC applied to the PSCW for apporval of a new 115kV radial line
to serve the proposed Crandon Mine near Sand Lake (Crandon Mine Electric
Transmission Line, formerly known as Venus-Sand Lake). The connection
would allow the mine to use about 20.5 MW, drawing its power directly
from WPSC's Upper West system north of Wausau through the Venus
Substation. As part of its application, WPSC requested authority
to
build a Crandon Substation that would include a terminal for the 115kV
line and distribution feeders to run along USH 8 and into the city
of
Crandon for local load support. The Crandon Substation would
bring the
115kV source closer to the Crandon load center.
Details about the line and the substations can be found in the Crandon
Mine Electric Transmission Line Application, submitted by WPSC in March
1995. Since 1995, the mining company and the DNR have been developing
the information needed for the DNR's EIS on the mine. The EIS
would
also discuss the potential impacts of the four proposed routes for
the
transmission line. The draft EIS is projected for issue in late
2000 or
early 2001. After the comment period on the draft EIS and issuance
of
the final EIS, the PSCW may hold a hearing and determine whether to
issue an approval for the line conditional on DNR approval of the mine.
The Venus Substation would be expanded to accommodate the new 115kV
terminal. The expansion would be done within WPSC-owned land
in the
existing Venus-Three Lakes transmission right-of-way. Very little
woodland, if any, would need to be cleared. The Crandon Substation
would be built on a greenfield site, more than likely displacing young
or moderatly mature woodland. The fenced area would cover about
0.55
acres, and the total land purchase for entry transmission structures
and
driveways would be between three and four acres. The proposed
line
would follow either USH8 and other state and county highways from the
Monico or a cross-country route that in some places utilized paved
or
graveled town roads. The potentially affected environments and
the
potential environmental impacts will be discuissed in the forthcoming
draft EIS on the mine. Regardless of route, there would be some impacts
on upland and wetland woody vegatation. There could also be notable
impacts on visual landscapes and aeshetic values. The Wolf River
and
several streams would need to be crossed, and the effects of the
crossings mitigated. (The potential impacts of the mine itself are
not
considered here because, although the mine cannot be built without
the
power line, the utility has the obligation to serve.)
Sincerely,
Linda Ceylor
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
5. WISCONSIN: DNR Permits Perrier Wells Against Majority of Local Community Citizens
a. Concerned Citizens of Newport respond to DNR Permit for Perrier Wells
Note: For more information about the Perrier's plans to mine Wisconsin's
water visit
http://www.friendsofthemecan.com/index.html
PRESS RELEASE
21 SEPTEMBER 2000
From: CONCERNED CITIZENS OF NEWPORT
Contact: Steve Argo (608-253-5201)
Hiroshi Kanno (608-253-7266)
W 15344 Waubeek Road
N9947 Thompson Drive
Wisconsin Dells, WI
53965 Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
608-253-4028 (fax)
WISCONSIN DELLS, WI: The decision by the Wisconsin Department
of Natural
Resources (DNR) to issue high-capacity well permits to the Perrier
Group of
America is a horrendous mistake. It was made on the grounds of
legal
expediency and was corrupted from day one by surreptitious meetings
and
highly paid lobbyists. It also came about because our state legislature
has
failed, time and again, to pass tough water laws. Instead of
basing their
decision on how to best protect Wisconsin’s water resources, the DNR
capitulated to those who are planning to exploit Wisconsin’s water
resources.
It suggests something is seriously wrong in how the state of
Wisconsin is
being governed.
Our anger at Perrier is matched only by one disappointment with the
DNR.
Twice now the people of New Haven have voted against Perrier by overwhelming
margins (74% to 26%), yet both times the company dismissed the outcome
as if
nothing had happened. Furthermore, when questions were raised
about possible
wetland destruction, the company was equally dismissive. We find
this
attitude disturbing at best, and contemptuous and arrogant at worse.
We don’t think they’re going to make very good neighbors.
But the DNR is the one that needs a scolding today. We are
especially
disturbed at the department’s timid interpretation of its regulatory
authority. We hear about “weak water laws” and how this entire
mess could
have been avoided had the legislature passed SB 414 last spring.
What we do
not hear (or read about in the DNR’s press release or George Meyer’s
editorial) is the “public trust” doctrine. This powerful shield
should have
been deployed months ago to protect our water, but no one in the department
is willing to stand behind it. And why is that? It
is because our governor
has the agency answering to loyal, efficient, political appointees.
Ever
since the department was reorganized in 1995 its enforcement powers
have been
in steady decline.
But generalities aside, what problems do we have with the Perrier decision?
First, Mr. Meyer, stop telling us all about how the DNR went to
“unprecedented measures” to scrutinize the Perrier application.
Stop
reminding us this was the “most restrictive well approval in Wisconsin’s
152-year history.” Stop telling us about all those 9400 other
wells. What
is “unprecedented” here is the scale of Perrier’s proposed pumping:
500
gallons per minute, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The other
water
bottlers in this state are pumping at less than 90 gallons a minute!
Considering that long-term impact studies have never been done at Big
Springs, isn’t this a bit reckless? Please, don’t refer us to
Perrier’s
“tests” last spring: they were run at 212 gallons a minute for
6 hours of 1
day. No wonder Professor George Kraft of UWSP was so critical.
Giving
Perrier a permit based on such parsimonious testing is an absolute
joke. As
to those 9400 other wells? We think you need qualify that by
saying that
9394 of them are either agricultural or residential. In other
words, water
that gets recharged back into its own system. In Perrier’s case,
the water
gets sucked up and shipped out to heaven knows where.
Secondly, we have been wondering about the “agreement” the DNR signed
with
Perrier. On what authority was the DNR acting? Does
the department
routinely sign similar agreements? Having read the agreement,
we found very
few binding passages and too many vague and indefensible ones.
We are
dumbfounded that the DNR places such faith in phrases like “BWSA has
voluntarily committed to do additional ground water, aquatic, and wetland
resource evaluations and monitoring into the foreseeable future, with
DNR
oversight” (page 2) To a company that has so aggressively dug
themselves in
here, this doesn’t exactly seem like tough enough language.
All the cards seem to fall into Perrier’s favor. They do the testing
and the
monitoring, not the DNR. Isn’t the teacher supposed to test the
student?
Here, the student makes their own test, takes it, presumably passes
it, and
the teacher evaluates it. We see red flags all over the place.
The
“agreement” also gives Perrier the right to challenge the DNR’s conclusions.
What that means to us is that while a bunch of biologists are arguing
over
how many suspended solids are in 100 mL of a murky water sample, that
giant
sucking sound you’ll be hearing will be spring water going up, up,
and
awaaaaaay.
Maybe the best way to explain the disturbing inconsistencies in the
DNR’s
thinking is to compare the messages of the DNR’s boss to different
audiences.
After Governor Thompson met with Perrier CEO Kim Jeffrey in July,
the
meeting went well enough for Mr. Jeffrey to write back that “inasmuch
as we
plan to be successful in the permit stage, the next issue will be our
ability
to site a plant.” We are wondering how that signal compares with
the one Mr.
Thompson’s press secretary made just last week in which the public
was told
that the governor “had not taken a position on Perrier.”
The Perrier issue has been one public relations fiasco after another
for the
governor. Beginning with the Mecan and now is Big Springs, his
stubborn
pride has continually gotten in the way of his better judgment.
Why has he
not made himself available in press conferences to answer questions?
Why has
he not considered calling a special session of the legislature to beef
up our
water laws? Why did he not come to New Haven or to Newport or
to Wisconsin
Dells to hear our concerns? Why did he not come to Senator Alice
Clausing’s
hearing last month and explain just why Perrier is so vital to Wisconsin?
Why has he persisted to ram this project down our throats?
It is because our governor made a mistake. That mistake was in
not fully
appreciating how much Wisconsin citizens value their water. If
he continues
to say to the people of Big Springs, “Your feelings don’t count.
You’re
getting Perrier whether you want it or not,” we predict he will experience
the slow undoing of nearly all the good things he has done. He
will wake up
one day and discover that not only are people questioning his judgment:
they
will be questioning his integrity and his ability to lead.
----------------------------------------------------------------
b. Garvey to sue DNR over well approval
In September 24 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.. See
http://www.jsonline.com/WI/092400/wi--perrierlawsuit0924000718.asp
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
a. Oct 25 Important Public Hearing on the Fox River Cleanup
From: "Rebecca Leighton Katers" <cwac@mail.execpc.com>
Date: Tue, 26 Sep 2000 16:13:56 +0000
Clean Water Action Council of Northeastern Wisconsin
www.cwac.net
Your attendance matters! Please come to one of the most important
Fox River public hearings to be held in more than 10 years.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service will be releasing their long-awaited
final document for the Natural Resources Damage Assessment, related
to the catastrophic Fox River PCB contamination in Northeast
Wisconsin and Lake Michigan. A week later, they will
hold a
public hearing on:
Wednesday, October 25
6 to 10 pm
at the Brown County Library
515 Pine Street, downtown Green Bay
This is a one-time major opportunity to require the payment of
$50-150 million or more from the 7 paper companies responsible for
the PCB contamination --- to cover the costs of wildlife habitat
projects in Northeast Wisconsin (restoration, acquisition, critical
habitat, endangered species, stocking, etc.) and for other waterfront
enhancements.
This is a damage compensation package, and separate from the
PCB sediment cleanup plan to be proposed early next year.
The hearing will include a presentation by U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service on their "Restoration & Compensation Determination Plan"
(RCDP) explaining their rationale and answering questions. Over
the
past year, they've already released several preparatory studies
which assessed the damages and economic costs of the contamination,
in terms of fish and wildlife resources (not human health).
Please read the Service's information online at:
http://www.fws.gov/r3pao/nrda/
Unfortunately, the final RCDP report won't be done until a week
before the hearing, but it is supposed to be on the Service's website
then for you to read.
Please be sure to share this information with everyone you know, and
bring your friends and family to the public hearing with you.
We
need to show strong support for this plan --- before the Service is
locked in settlement negotiations with the paper companies.
Hope to see you there!
Rebecca Leighton Katers
Clean Water Action Council of N.E. Wisconsin
East Port Center
1270 Main Street, Suite 120
Green Bay, WI 54302
Phone: 920-437-7304
Fax: 920-437-7326
E-mail: CleanWater@cwac.net
Homepage: www.cwac.net
--------------------------------------------------------------------
b. GB Press Gazette: PCB dredging on Fox River moves forward
In October 4 Green Bay Press Gazette. See
http://www.pressgazettenews.com/archive/articles/0010/1004fpcb.html
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
7. EDITORIAL: Bush, Cheney: all oiled up
In Wisconsin State Journal September 27, 2000
See
http://www.thecapitaltimes.com/opinion/editorial/2000/09/bush_cheney_092700.html
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