Mines are Damaging Land in Northern Wisconsin

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Recommended: Introduction of an essay on the impacts of mining on the environment

A mine is about to take place in the Penokee range, which will damage northern Wisconsin land and waters for centuries to comes. This land and water has been known for their outstanding environmental standards and quality. The land is a part of who the Native people are. The damage from the mine is permanent. Mine companies have so much money it’s like they can just buy their way through anything.
Mines often take a big piece of land and destroy it along with all the surrounding areas; there is no environmental safe way of mining. A mine is good for economical purposes but if a big chunk of land is wasted like the Penokee range will be, then the mine shouldn’t happen. With the mine being deemed as uneconomical, it wouldn’t make sense to let it happen. Communities can work together to fight the mining company. There have been numerous reports of community complaints due to the mining companies promising the communities things they haven’t carried out. The mining companies have also failed to pay for the damages or invest in the communities. They’re multi-billion dollar companies so they walk all over everybody, with no one to stop them.
There are many scientific factors that should be considered or looked into. Before they start mining the area, they should fully understand the consequences. Ground pyrite can be exposed to oxygen and water, allowing it to oxidize more quickly. When the pyrite is oxidized it generates sulfuric acid. Sulfuric acid from the Penokee mine will be leaked into the environment which would threaten Cooper Falls State Park, the Bad River, Lake Superior water quality, aquatic lands, and the wet lands. The sulfuric acid comes from the ‘waste rock’ which is iron pyrite. The waste rock mixed with rain water ...

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... area has seventy-one miles of rivers and streams that flow through it. Researchers have found that there is “over 150 Indian allotments on the ore deposit issued from 1858 through 1887” (Northern Wi, Mining). The penokee range was noted as an “important bird area and a conservation opportunity area of continental significance” (Davis). The Penokee is such a unique landmark that should be left alone for future generations.
The mine should not be done, especial to such a majestic place like the penokee range. Anyone who has seen the range would understand why stopping the mine would be a good thing. Nothing good is coming from the mine other than money. There are plenty of bad things that will happen due to the water pollution, air pollution, and water usage from the mine. Communities can work together to fight the mine company, and together people can be heard.

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