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Wisconsin Mine/Transmission
Line Rally Draws 100

from Bill Ahrens
Monday, November 15, 1999

Copyright © 1999 Ahrens
All Rights Reserved


The Wolf Watershed Educational Project (WWEP) drew 100 people to a Saturday, November 13 rally to stop a proposed transmission line to the Crandon mine. It was held at the intersection of Highways 8 and 45/47 in Monico, 12 miles west of Crandon. The purpose of the rally was to link movements against high-voltage transmission lines, metallic sulfide mining, and hydroelectric dams.

The rally also alerted local landowners about the proposed construction of a 115 kv feeder transmission line to the Crandon mine, which involves Right-Of-Way land purchases and possibly condemnations. Numerous motorists and truckers blew their horns in support of the rally. The Hwy. 8-45/47 intersection is on the proposed transmission line route and near the Venus substation that is key to the feeder line, which would emanate from a planned 345 kv Duluth-to-Wausau line.

Representatives spoke from the interconnected movements that oppose the Crandon mine, oppose new high voltage transmission lines through Wisconsin/Minnesota, and oppose the Manitoba dams that would be the source for much of the project's electricity.

The representatives included members of the Mole Lake Chippewa, Save Our Unique Lands (SOUL), Midwest Treaty Network, Wisconsin Resources Protection Council, Mining Impact Coalition, Rusk County Citizens Action Group, U.W. student groups from Stevens Point and Oshkosh, and a spokesperson representing the Cross Lake Cree of Manitoba.

A local landowner voiced opposition to the line, and gave rally participants to stop it. Bill Ahrens of the Wolf Watershed Educational Project read a statement supporting the rally from Rep. Sarah Waukau. Ahrens added, "This rally marks the expansion of the transmission line opposition into northeastern Wisconsin, and bring together environmentalists, farmers, and Native peoples opposed to the interconnection of dams, transmission lines, and sulfide mines."

Participants performed theater depicting the toppling of a mock "transmission line" by shouts of opposition, and formed a circle at the end depicting the victory of "people power" over so-called "power lines."


For updates, contact Bill Ahrens.
Phone: 715-275-3679 ~ E-mail: billof@newnorth.net
For background information call;
the Mining Hotline, phone: (800) 445-8615

For information on the transmission line connection to the
mine, see the Mole Lake Chippewa's, Save Our Unique Lands
(SOUL) site. URL: http://www.wakeupwisconsin.com

OR see the Midwest Treaty Network web site.
URL 1: http://www.alphacdc.com/treaty/powerline.html
URL 2: http://www.treatyland.com


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