For sake of Wolf River, don't let Crandon Mine resurface By Curt Anderson News-Chronicle It appears the Crandon Mine, long a festering problem for Wisconsin citizens, is dead. My advice to those who believe this is, "It only looks dead." We must be vigilant, lest another fast-talking, campaign-donation-making mining company comes in and takes over where the others have failed. Why should we be suspicious? BHP Billiton Mining Company, parent company of Nicolet Minerals, is still pursuing a permit to mine. Such a permit will make the property more attractive to a prospective new buyer. In a statement that shows his loyalty to polluting industries in Wisconsin, Gov. Scott McCallum said recently his administration would not pursue the purchase of the mine site through the Stewardship Fund, but was instead "supporting mining for economic development in northern Wisconsin." McCallum's insistence that northern Wisconsin get "economic development" from mining is a novel idea, if only in the twisted imagination of the mining industry. Others call it "horse dookey." Perhaps McCallum is hoping for more campaign donations from mining interests. Mining, aside from being terribly polluting, carries with it a boom-and-bust cycle for local economies. As mining operations begin, property values soar as miners move into the area. As the market price for metal drops, the mines close, laying off workers, causing massive sell-offs and dropping property values like a stone. Other businesses die on the vine as the economy fails. Environmental groups want to put this land in trust, protecting it forever from the dire consequences of mining. The Stewardship Fund was set up specifically to set aside land for future generations and is supported by conservation, environmental, hunting and fishing groups around the state. The fund will have over $341 million available over the next 10 years. In the last 25 years, the mining companies have not been able to show they can operate without polluting the Wolf River, one of the cleanest streams in the state, and designated as Outstanding Resource Waters. In spite of all of their promises, the mining companies were unable to demonstrate they could keep acidic leachate from contaminating the Wolf River, or protect ground water from acidic contamination, or prevent drawdown, which would likely affect every well in the area. The ruination of the Wolf River would be the deathblow to industries that thrive there now. Mom and Pop motels, gift shops, fishing and hunting suppliers, restaurants and gas stations would suffer. Who would travel to an area polluted with the rotten-egg smell of sulfur, devoid of fish because of the acidic contamination? Millions of tourism dollars would be lost. Dale Alberts, president of Nicolet Minerals, wants the state to stop "dragging their feet." He says no mining company wants to put up with the "hassle" from environmentalists. Coincidentally, environmentalists don't like being hassled by polluting extraction industries either. Alberts better get used to that hassle. Activists have settled in for the long haul. Rafters, canoeists, fishers, cottage owners, environmentalists and conservationists have banded together to stop what they know will be the end of the pristine Wolf River and the established economies of the area. They are not going to be fooled by the insidious moves and empty promises of the mining industry. They know the true wealth of the area is a clean Wolf River.