-------------------------
Via Workers World News Service
Reprinted from the Oct. 30, 1997
issue of Workers World newspaper
-------------------------

Native people, environmentalists fight Exxon

By Phil Wilayto
Milwaukee

Some 700 people turned out Oct. 14 for a rally opposing the construction of a multimillion-dollar copper-sulfide mine in northern Wisconsin.

The rally took place on the grounds of the State Fair Park outside Milwaukee just before a final public hearing on a bill that would effectively ban the mine. The mining industry also mobilized hundreds—to attend the hearing to oppose the bill.

The Crandon Mining Co.—a partnership formed by Exxon and the Canadian company Rio Algom Ltd.—is seeking permits to remove 55 million tons of zinc, lead and copper ore from a deposit near the Sokaogon Chippewa reservation in Mole Lake, Wis.

Opponents of the mine—including Native communities, environmentalists, home owners and sport-fishing enthusiasts—say the mine poses a grave danger to the area’s water and wildlife and to traditional Indian wild rice harvesting.

The proposed bill would prevent the state from granting the permits unless Crandon Mining could prove similar mines had operated safely for at least 10 years and also had been closed for 10 years without polluting.

Exxon has some powerful friends on its side. The state’s biggest law firm, Foley and Lardner, represents Crandon in the permit process. Gov. Tommy Thompson’s former chief of staff, James Klauser, was for a number of years Exxon’s Midwest mineral lobbyist. Harnischfeger Industries, the world’s big gest manufacturer of mining equipment, is headquartered in Milwaukee and has threatened to leave if the proposed bill is passed.

- END -

(Copyright Workers World Service: Permission to reprint granted if source is cited. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY,NY 10011; via e-mail: ww@workers.org. For subscription info send message to:info@workers.org. Web: http://www.workers.org)

Copyright © 1997 workers.org