Wolfden Resources has resubmitted its proposal for a zinc mine in Maine after being turned down earlier this year.
The proposal, resubmitted on Thursday seeks a permit to extract metallic ore that is rich in copper, lead, zinc, silver, and gold. The so-called Pickett Mountain deposit is east of Baxter State Park and Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument.
The plan is a test of the state’s mining laws for Ontario-based Wolfden Resources. The mining laws, adopted in 2017, impose some of the strictest environmental standards in the nation.
“The project will meet those requirements and showcase mining techniques that allow for responsible and safe extraction of metallic minerals that are key to our future,” the company said, according to the Associated Press.
The Penobscot Nation, Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, and more than 700 Mainers and local businesses have spoken out against Wolfden’s plans to pollute the Pickett Mountain region.
“The waters and woods of the northern Katahdin region are no place for a mine,” said Patten resident MaryAlice Mowry. “We are home to Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, Baxter State Park, and pristine waters for fishing and fun. Wolfden Resources is giving us empty promises, ignoring concerns, and creating divisions across our region. No matter how much anyone wants to believe that a mine is a ticket to our future, it is not true. There should be no mine on Pickett Mountain.”
Nick Bennett, a staff scientist with the Natural Resources Council of Maine said the petition will be reviewed. “But there is little doubt that a mine at Pickett Mountain would forever damage the clean water and rich natural resources that support the region’s vibrant outdoor recreation economy,” he added.
According to Bennett in a 2020 blog, metal mining is one of the most damaging industries on earth. The types of deposits in Maine could result in hazardous mining pollution that persists for centuries due to high levels of sulfur and toxic metals.
As part of its plan, Wolfden is proposing to build a full-scale mill and ore processing facility on site. What this means is that the company would produce ore concentrates using floatation tanks. This is a very dangerous process because it creates toxic mine tailings that need storage in perpetuity—essentially, forever.
Wolfden also fails the financial test. Maine rezoning rules require Wolfden to show that it has the financial capacity to complete a complex and expensive project. It does not.
Because mining is such a demanding and dangerous industry, only companies that have strong financial positions can do the job well. Wolfden’s finances are not strong, says Bennett.
