February 2, 1998 EMERGENCY ACTION ALERT for SB 3, Wisconsin's sulfide Mining Moratorium -->Vote on Moratorium may come as soon as tomorrow, Tuesday, February 3rd! For Immediate Release Please Distribute Widely IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED! Wisconsin residents are urged to IMMEDIATELY contact their Senator, and ask him/her to pass without Amendment #4. For state Senate e-mail addresses, see http://www.legis.state.wi.us/senate/senate.html People who live outside of Wisconsin are requested to send an email IMMEDIATELY to Senator Robert Breske, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, whose district would include the proposed Rio Algom Crandon mine. Please ask Senator Breske to vote for SB 3, the sulfide Mining Moratorium WITHOUT Amendment $4. According to constituents in Senator Robert Cowles district, aides for Senator Cowles said the Wisconsin Senate will go into caucus on SB 3, the Mining Moratorium, at 10:00am tomorrow, Tuesday February 3. A Senate vote on SB 3 could come tomorrow after the caucus. On January 22, the Wisconsin State Assembly gutted SB 3, the Sulfide Mining Moratorium Bill with an Exxon/Republican amendment (#4). SB 3 then subsequently passed in the Assembly 75-21. The bill would have banned new sulfide mines in the state until one such mine can be proven to have been closed for ten years without causing pollution. Mining companies have not been able to locate such a mine, but Amendment #4 redefined and weakened the definition of acidic sulfide pollution, making it much more possible to "prove" that metallic sulfide mining is safe. On January 23, just one day after the Assembly vote, Rio Algom announced it had bought Exxon's 50% share in the proposed Wolf River metallic sulfide mine near Crandon, Wisconsin. Rio Algom's acquisition established the company as the sole owner and operator of the proposed Crandon mine. Last week Rio Algom announced that a new entity, the Nicolet Minerals Company, will be established to develop and operate the Crandon mine project. While action against sulfide mining has focused to a large extent on Exxon, opponents of mining are not happy with Rio Algom's track record on mining and its treatment of workers. Rio Algom's Elliot Lake uranium mines caused the deaths of dozens of Ontario miners in the 1950s-70s (members of the United Steelworkers) from silicosis and lung cancer, the poisoning of the Serpent River downstream and its Ojibwe community. Serpent River Ojibwe band councillor Keith Lewis testified on Rio Algom's Elliot Lake uranium mines. He said the Serpent River used to be one of the greatest sturgeon producing rivers in the province, but that ancient fish has all but disappeared due to radioactive and heavy metal poisons from the mines, and the only reason walleye are still present is that the river is stocked for sportsmen. Lewis testified that he is one of many former Elliot Lake miners who now have serious health problems such as asthma, bronchitis, or cancer. The provincial Health Ministry admits the miners' lung cancer rates are 300 to 500 percent above that of the normal population. Rio Algom is also on the Survival International Top Ten list, because of its Elliot Lake uranium mines. Lewis testified that the company blasted a spiritual site, and added, "They have given money to the white municipalities which have a larger population... They say to the people of Serpent River who live downstream.... you people are crazy." In Nova Scotia, Rio Algom has still not cleaned up its East Kemptville tin mine, posing a threat to the multimillion dollar lobster industry. Sulfide mining in the Northwoods, and particularly Rio Algom's proposed Crandon mine, has become the number one environment issue in Wisconsin. A strong grassroots alliance of Native American nations, sportfishing groups, environmentalists, and unionists has put Exxon on the defensive. Mining and Indian gaming are already the top issues in the upcoming race between Republican Governor Tommy Thompson, and his Democratic (and opponent of sulfide mining) Ed Garvey. Legislative Republicans want to gut SB3 so Thompson can sign it, to take the issue away from Garvey. Thompson may veto an SB3 that is intact, but mining opponents have many other strategies on the local, state, federal and tribal government levels. SB 3 is now in the State Senate where Senators will have the opportunity tomorrow to reject Amendment #4. Although the Senate passed the bill in March 1997 on a bipartisan vote of 29-3, the Senate's current actions are unpredictable in light of recent intensive lobbying by Exxon, and an even party split in the body. Please help protect Wisconsin's clean environment and healthy economy for future generations by supporting the sulfide Mining Moratorium. Thank you in advance for your help. For more background on mining, see the Midwest Treaty Network web site at http://www.alphacdc.com/treaty/content.html For information on the track record of Rio Algom, see the Wisconsin Review Commission's 1995 Report on the Track Record of Exxon and Rio Algom at http://www.alphacdc.com/treaty/track-1.html ****************************************************** "People have the power to redeem the work of fools." Patti Smith For Mother Earth. . . For Humanity. . . A. I. McCombs P.O. Box 573 Shawano, WI 54166 Ph: 715-524-5998 FAX (Phone first): 715-524-9958 [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.earthwins.com When EarthWINS, Everybody Wins!
