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New Statewide Poll Shows Majority Opposing the Crandon Mine and Cyanide Use In Mines; Strong opposition shown among Republicans and Northern Wisconsin residents.

Madison, WI - A new poll by Chamberlain Research Consultants, a respected Madison-based opinion research firm, shows majority public opposition throughout Wisconsin to new metallic sulfide mines and the planned use of cyanide in these mines. Environmentalists hailed the poll as demonstrating that opposition to the Crandon mine (and other potential mines) hasgrown since the mining moratorium fight of 1997-98, especially among Republican Party members and Northeastern Wisconsin residents living closest to the proposed Crandon mine site near the Wolf River.

The statewide polling found support for the ban on cyanide in mining bya more than 3 to 1 margin, with 60% of those polled in favor. On the question of sulfide mining in northern Wisconsin, 55% statewide were opposed to locating a sulfide mine in northern Wisconsin. Two other issues were polled: strengthened "Bad Actor" legislation and "Equal Treatment" legislation requiring mining to meet the same environmental regulations as other state industry. State residents strongly support Bad Actor (70%) and Equal Treatment (90%). Chamberlain Research surveyed 600 Wisconsin residents age 21 and over during the first two weeks in June this year. The poll used standard polling techniques and can be projected to the population atlarge with a 95% degree of certainty.

Environmentalists, Native American nations, sportfishing groups, and others have for years opposed the proposed Crandon zinc-copper mine next to the Mole Lake Chippewa Reservation, and possible gold mines elsewhere in northern Wisconsin. The Australian/South African mining conglomerate BHP Billiton now owns the mine project. According to DNR consultant Andres Trevino, the mine would use up to 200 tons a year of cyanide in ore processing.

Wisconsin Republicans in the poll supported a prohibition on the use of cyanide in all Wisconsin mines by 2 to 1. Republican Party supporters also opposed new metallic sulfide mines in northern Wisconsin by a plurality of 42 percent to 35 percent. "The Republican Party has been recently criticized around the country for having anti-environmental policies. But we can see that Republican Party supporters here in Wisconsin have a stronger environmental concern," said Zoltan Grossman of the Midwest Treaty Network's Wolf Watershed Educational Project, "Cyanide in mining is the Wisconsin version of the national controversy over arsenic in drinking water."

"The cyanide issue offers moderate Republicans a chance to show their true environmental colors, and offers an environmental litmus test to Republican leadership." said Dave Blouin, Mining Impact Coalition of Wisconsin,"Cyanide is presently not being used in this pristine area of northern Wisconsin. Weare finding that many Republicans do not want toxic cyanide dumped in the headwaters of our northern rivers. They also do not want their leaders to be perceived as pro-cyanide leading up to next year's election." Republican Assembly Representatives Judy Krawczyk (R-Green Bay) and Pat McCormick (R-Appleton) attended Monday's Green Bay press conference releasing the poll, which was commissioned by the Forest County Potawatomi Community.

George Rock, a Wolf River sportfisherman and Wolf Watershed Educational Project leader, pointed out that the poll showed a majority of northeastern Wisconsin residents opposed both new mines and the use of cyanide in these mines, at even stronger levels than in Dane or Milwaukee counties. He explained that, "This poll shows the success of our alliance that has brought together tribes and sportfishers, environmentalists with unionists, and students with rural residents. It also shows that people around the proposed mine site do not buy the mining company's promise of jobs, but see their existing tourism jobs as threatened by mining."

Senator Russ Decker has introduced Senate Bill 160 (a companion to Assembly Bill 95) to ban the use of cyanide in all Wisconsin mines. The bill won approval in the Senate Environmental Resources Committee in May, and will be voted on by the full Senate in October. Blouin said that "Attempts will be made to single out and exempt the Crandon mine from the prohibition on cyanide, for the sole purpose of allowing the only currently proposed mine to go forward. But the poll confirms strong public support for Senator Decker's bill to ban cyanide in all Wisconsin mines, without exceptions. Thepublic is not supportive of any new metallic mines, much less any that use such a chemical so threatening to northern game fish."

Five counties have passed resolutions supporting a cyanide ban in mining (Rusk, Langlade, Shawano, Brown and Milwaukee), joined by three tribes and at least 16 local governments in the Wolf-Fox river watershed. More than 13,000 Wisconsin citizens have signed a cyanide ban petition, and environmental, sportfishing, tribal, union and student groups have signed on to the Wisconsin Campaign to Ban Cyanide in Mining.

For more information, visit No Crandon Mine and follow the link to the Wisconsin Campaign to Ban Cyanide in Mining:

A petition and local government resolution can be printed from the website, and sent to the Campaign; P.O. Box 14382, Madison WI 53714 (toll-free Hotline 800-445-8615). The Campaign urged supporters to ask their lawmakers not only to vote for Senate Bill 160 and Assembly Bill 95 to ban cyanide in all Wisconsin mines, but also to vote against any exemptions to the ban that would allow the Crandon mine to open. (Call the toll-free Legislative Hotline 800-362-9472, and write via the State Capitol, Madison WI 53702).