Practically all of the technical water-related data [water quality, hydrogeology, geochemical, etc.–baseline and routine monitoring] used by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to evaluate Flambeau Mine operations were and continue to be generated by Flambeau Mining Company (FMC; a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kennecott/Rio Tinto) and or their consultants. None of the reports factoring into regulation of the site have been generated by financially or politically-independent sources.
Several outside reviews of FMC’s historical and modern documents, however, have been authored by citizen-commissioned experts: Dr. David M. Chambers and Dr. Kendra Zamzow (Center for Science in Public Participation, Bozeman, MT: http://csp2.org/), Dr. Ken Parejko (Professor Emeritus, Department of Biology, University of Wisconsin-Stout), and Dr. Robert E. Moran (Michael-Moran Associates, Golden, CO: https://remwater.org/). In addition, a single study regarding surface water quality at the Flambeau Mine site was conducted by the Wisconsin DNR in 2012. A 2015 FMC report is also instructive in that it includes a data table in which the company itself documents 45 violations of Wisconsin water quality standards in 17 different wells at the Flambeau Mine site. Please see the below links:
- Moran, Robert E. (Michael-Moran Associates, Golden, CO), May 2019 (posthumous), Flambeau Mine: Water Contamination and Selective “Alternative Facts”; 116 pg.
- Moran, Robert E. (Michael-Moran Associates, Golden, CO), April 2017, Summary : Flambeau Mine: Water Contamination and Selective “Alternative Facts”; 4 pg.
- Download the summary report from Dr. Moran’s website at https://remwater.org/projects/flambeau-mine-ladysmith-wisconsin-u-s/ ; https://remwater.org/publications/ ; Website static image
- Download the summary report from Deer Tail Press website at https://deertailpress.files.wordpress.com/2017/04/wisc-flamb-rem-summary-4-11-20171.pdf
- Flambeau Mining Company, December 2015, Environmental Monitoring (Fourth Quarter 2015); 73 pg.
- Download the paper from Deer Tail Scientific website and go to electronic page 68 for FMC table documenting violations of Wisconsin groundwater quality standards.
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, April 2012, Surface Water Quality Assessment of the Flambeau Mine Site; 40 pg.
- Chambers, David M., and Kendra Zamzow (Center for Science in Public Participation, Bozeman, MT), June 2009, Report on Groundwater and Surface Water Contamination at the Flambeau Mine; 29 pg.
- Download the paper from CSP2 website
- Download the paper from Deer Tail Scientific website
- Download biographical information on Dr. Chambers and Dr. Zamzow
- Parejko, Ken, April 2009, Flambeau River Monitoring at the Flambeau Mine, Rusk County, Wisconsin: 1. FLAMBEAU RIVER SEDIMENTS – Analysis, Comments and Recommendations; 27 pg.
- Download the paper
- Download biographical information on Dr. Parejko
- Parejko, Ken, April 2009, Flambeau River Monitoring at the Flambeau Mine, Rusk County, Wisconsin: 2. MACROINVERTEBRATES – Analysis, Comments and Recommendations; 29 pg.
- Parejko, Ken, April 2009, Flambeau River Monitoring at the Flambeau Mine, Rusk County, Wisconsin: 3. CRAYFISH – Analysis, Comments and Recommendations; 14 pg.
- Parejko, Ken, April 2009, Flambeau River Monitoring at the Flambeau Mine, Rusk County, Wisconsin: 4. WALLEYE TISSUE MONITORING – Analysis, Comments and Recommendations; 18 pg.
- Download the paper
- Download a one-page summary of related walleye information compiled by Laura Gauger
- Chambers, David M., Kendra Zamzow and Ken Parejko, June 2009, Recommendations for Changes to Groundwater, Surface Water and Biomonitoring Specified in the Stipulation Monitoring Plan at the Flambeau Mine; 15 pg.
Deer Tail Scientific 