Possibly coming to Wisconsin: “The most toxic industry in America”

Wisconsin eyeing industrial acid mining. 

A mining fight is brewing in Wisconsin.

Work is apparently underway by mining interests to legalize industrial acid mining – or sulfide mining – in the state.

Kerry Schumann from the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters says it’s called industrial acid mining for a reason.

“Sulfide mining is actually the most toxic industry in America,” she said. “The Environmental Protection Agency has actually called it the most toxic industry.”

Schumann says the sulfide mining process creates vast amounts of toxic waste.

“It’s called acid mine drainage,” she said. “It contains heavy metals that literally can poison groundwater. It can destroy all aquatic and plant life in a river. It can turn lakes into dead zones.”

Apparently, several sites in northern Wisconsin have been identified as likely spots for sulfide mining.

And, that toxic waste from the process is kind of what you might expect, says Schumann.

“It contains arsenic, asbestos, mercury, lead, benzene,” she explained. “It sort of the list of all the things we know are the most toxic things out there, comes out of sulfide mining.”

Schumann added that everywhere a sulfide mine goes, drinking water, lakes or rivers become contaminated.