Nicolet Minerals Company
Crandon, Wisconsin
Foth was retained by the Crandon Mining Company, (now Nicolet Minerals Company) to assist in acquiring permits for developing a greenfield zinc and copper mine in northern Wisconsin.
More than 40 permits were needed from the Wisconsin DNR and other federal, state and local agencies. The permitting effort was one of the most comprehensive in the United States, and had a high public profile requiring careful management of regulatory and public
affairs issues.
As a part of the broad permitting work, the process required an extensive environmental evaluation be completed, focusing on impacts to groundwater, surface water and air. Studies linked socioeconomics to the project planning and demonstrated the mine, developed with the protection of the environment in mind, could provide economic benefit to the region. Significant effort was devoted to balancing environmental, social, and economic considerations.
Challenges
- Estimating mine dewatering impacts on lakes, streams and wetlands
- Developing a plan to mitigate adverse impacts to surface water due to mine dewatering
- Treating mine water to standards that exceed safe drinking water requirements, and discharging back into a watershed that contributes to a state designated Outstanding Resource Water
- Designing a tailings management facility to provide long-term protection of groundwater and surface water resources.
- Designing a mine closure plan to protect groundwater and surface water resources
Benefits
Foth worked with Nicolet Minerals Company to develop a project protective of Wisconsin's natural resources, and provided high quality technical services in a manner that was also responsive to public concerns.
To learn more about the Crandon Project permitting documents, contact Stephen Donohue at (920) 496-6806.
