ELY, MN--Recently released data from the Environmental Protection Agency shows that hard rock metal mining (of which sulfide-ore copper mining is a part) is again the largest emitter of toxic releases, and that mines held up by Chilean mining conglomerate Antofagasta's Twin Metals as examples they will follow are some of the most toxic. Hecla’s Greens Creek Mine in Alaska is no. 4 nationally, with more than 58 million tons of toxic material on-site in 2019, Eagle Mine in Michigan is no. 53 and Pogo Mine is no. 66. All three mines have been pointed to by Twin Metals as examples they would be following.
"The simple fact of the matter is sulfide-ore mining is the world's most toxic industry and it doesn't belong next to one of America's most pristine and visited Wildernesses," said Save the Boundary Waters' Executive Director Tom Landwehr. "These mines pollute, it's a simple and unavoidable fact of the industry, and that pollution will flow into and destroy forever the Boundary Waters and the thousands of jobs that depend on a healthy Wilderness. If the best examples Antofagasta can point to are this bad, what does that say about their project?"
In addition to being massive emitters of toxic material, the Alaska mines in particular have a terrible environmental track record. A March 2020 report from Earthworks found that of the 5 mines they reviewed:
- All five mines have experienced at least one major spill or other accidental release of hazardous materials such as mine tailings, cyanide solution, diesel fuel and ore concentrate
- Four of the five mines failed to capture or control contaminated mine water, resulting in water quality violations that often occurred over an extended period.
- Four out of five mines have been identified by EPA as out of compliance with federal laws to protect clean air or water in the last three years.
- Metals pollution from two mines has contaminated public lands designated as National Monuments.
- The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process at four of the mines underestimated water quality impacts, failing to predict violations of federal and state laws.
Antofagasta's Twin Metals project was terminated in 2016 by the US Forest Service because it posed a threat of irreparable harm to an irreplaceable Wilderness. It was resurrected by the Trump Administration and is being fast tracked through inadequate reviews and negative changes to bedrock environmental laws. There are multiple lawsuits challenging these actions.