Citizen Struggles Hampered by Intervenor Loss Wisconsin citizens face several major environmental impacts without the advice and assistance of the Public Intervenors Office. Corporations and special interests have the lawyers, experts, secretarial support, public relations staff and budgets to launch promotional campaigns for their projects.
Citizens have few resources to protect themselves.
In addition, the Public Intervenor Office retained three scientists who were world-class experts in sulfide rock mining and the potential for toxic impacts on groundwater and surface waters such as the Wolf River. Together, this team would have given Wisconsin citizens a valuable independent evaluation of legal and technical arguments made by the DNR and the mining company. Now, this public service will not be provided, but the mining company will be well represented. Widespread contamination had closed commercial fisheries and resulted in warnings against consumption of fish and ducks regionally. In addition, swimmers are at risk, harbors and marinas face huge expenses disposing of contaminated sediments they dredge, and communities are unable to use the Fox River or lower Green Bay as drinking water supplies.