OCCWA advocates responsible representation at the local and state government levels for protecting our greatest in the Northwoods: our pristine waters, wetlands, forests and clean air.
This OCCWA website serves as your resource for news about environmental issues that impact Oneida County in northern Wisconsin.
Thank you, Oneida County Citizens, for defeating the Referendum Question of Nov. 6, 2018, by an impressive 62 percent!
You were asked by the Oneida County Board of Supervisors this question
on the ballot:
After performing their due diligence, should Oneida County allow leasing of County owned lands in the Town of Lynne for the purpose of metallic mineral exploration, prospecting, bulk sampling and mining?....And the voters said: No, the County should not!
For more information, check out our page dedicated to the Lynne Mineral Site.
Explore the issues
Citizens speak out at Public Hearing
The Oneida County Conservation and UW-Extension Education Committee held a public hearing on June 5, 2019, on the committee's draft of the Land and Water Resource Management Plan for 2020-2029. Read the comments made by the public.
The Draft can be read as a PDF here.
Environmentalists Speak Out About Mining Catastrophes
Here or abroad, mining accidents are always a disaster. Al Gedicks rebuts the Natural Resources Development Association director for criticizing environmentalists who talk about catastrophic mining accidents that have occurred in other countries.
Vilas County judge returns bottling company's law suit over water use at Carlin Lake back to the Board of Adjustment for further reconsideration.
Wisconsin could face a mining disaster:
Mining company's proposed tailings dam could cause massive pollution of Lake Michigan
The State prohibits filling in dry lake beds, for a good reason:
Like the lake beds at the Lynne Mineral site, in wet years they become really wet lakes.
The Colorado Gold King sulfide mine spilled 3 million gallons of wastewater into the Animas and San Juan Rivers in 2015.
Is sulfide mining really safe? This short video produced by the Wisconsin River Alliance may help you decide whether it's right or not for your community.