They are an important cultural and food resource for the Mole Lake Sokaogon Chippewa. Mine dust could affect the Forest County Potawatomi, who are five miles downwind from the proposed mine site. Metallic sulfide mines and their toxic waste ponds always eventually leak. Leakage or spills from the proposed mine would flow into and could damage the Wolf River, and reduce Northeastern Wisconsin's primary income from fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and other tourism. Most of the mining jobs go to outside trained technicians rather than local people.
Mining towns have high rates of unemployment, social problems, and taxes.
If the mine is permitted, trainloads and truckloads of poisonous chemicals would be traveling every day over Wisconsin railways and roads to the mine. Tons of toxic metallic ore would be traveling from the mine, increasing the possibility of dangerous spills around the state. The proposed mine site is about 100 miles northwest of Green Bay. Algom, the former owner of Nicolet Minerals Company has been bought by the Australian giant BHP and London-based South African company Billiton. The previous mining companies that owned the Crandon mine project have poor environmental and labor track records.