March 28, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

Mine proposal leaves residents with difficult choice

WARREN — A proposal for a $35 million nickel mine near the shore of Crawford Pond is pitting environmentalists against local leaders who say the depressed community needs jobs.

Black Hawk Mining of Toronto has leased 200 acres on the pond’s west shore, and hopes to get approval to mine nickel, copper and cobalt.

“We’re very serious about proceeding,” said Black Hawk President Garry Hughes, who has been developing a proposal to mine the site for at least eight months.

Although the mine would be located in Warren, the site is less than a quarter-mile from Union where voters have voted 2-1 against the operation.

The mine would consist of a 30- to 40-acre hole, and a mill to grind the ore into powder that would be shipped to a smelter in Sudbury, Ontario.

Hughes said the company is committed to rehabilitating the site once all the ore is extracted.

But some local residents are skeptical.

“I have a hard time believing the mining industry has become conservationists, and has cleaned up their act,” said Austin Jones of Union, who lives near the pond.

Former Warren Town Manager Robert Whiteley acknowledged that “a lot of people perceive it as the raping and pillaging of the town.” But Whiteley said the mine is a “huge amount of income for the town.”

Whiteley met with Black Hawk officials and decided the project would add needed jobs to the area that has been hit by the closing of several fish processors.

“Contrary to popular opinion, the midcoast area is not wealthy,” Whiteley said. “I saw an opportunity for the mining company to come in and provide wages for the working man and provide taxes, with a minimum of negative aspects.”

Union Selectman John Riley, echoing the sentiment of local residents, said the proposal poses a dilemma.

“The community needs employment. At the same time, we don’t want to hurt the environment. I have mixed feelings at this point,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Environmental Protection is drafting rules that would affect any mining operation in Maine. Regulations could be submitted for approval to the Board of Environmental Protection by next month.

There are proposals to mine copper, gold and zinc at Bald Mountain in Aroostook County and extract zinc at Alder Pond, near Jackman.


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