09.05.14 Letter to Chris Cline re: GTac’s  G-Tactics

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September 5th, 2014

Good Day Mr. Cline,

These pictures include four executives representing your subsidiary, Gogebic Taconite  (Gtac) and pictures of the security force hired by you or your executives to protect our Northwoods. The presence of the heavily armed guards, who were working illegally in Wisconsin, spurred many comments and questions of which one was repeatedly asked  - What steps has Gtac made to review their hiring process to make certain that all employees and contractors are operating legally in Wisconsin? This security firm apparently neglected to secure the adequate license to in Wisconsin.

Public Relations and Political Affairs Executive Director, Bobby Seitz, has made interesting statements over the past couple of years – His response in December of 2012 to concerns that Gtac’s proposed mine is in the Bad River watershed, which runs through tribal land was  “key is to pass a mining bill and address concerns of the tribe later.” In the same article he states” but the new law would include changes the company wants in pre-application work that would let the company start gathering data on streams and wetlands in the spring when water levels are high”. Certainly the law did not need to be changed so water data on the streams and wetlands could be collected. My guess this refers to the delineation process. Seems rather strange that offers to help with stream and wetland surveys were met with the threat of legal action, both civil and criminal from your company officials. These statements and many more have been very confusing to say the least. Unfortunately this ‘change the law and ignore policy' was misguided and demonstrated an unwillingness to work with local governments. This policy is also disrespectful of Wisconin’s history and the Nations that share northern Wisconsin. This is our big woods, not yours to exploit. Lawyers, execs, and the Reublican legislators, inus one,  misjudged our communities and made a foolish  decision. All the pollution from your mine will flow into Ashland County and the Bad River Reservation. After all it was only fair to at least hold one hearing in the community affected the most rather than the a rich "burb" in southern Wisconsin. The media and public outcry has put questions on the table: How did your infusion of $700,000 into the Wisconsin political coffers influence the decision making process? How were these dollars channeled to support pro mine legislators and candidates?

Once again, your PR executives are allover the place: Reports are circulating that you are leaving Wisconsin and pouring forth from the Iron county Courthouse is the story Cline called Bill Williams and told him no more money is to be spent on this project. Certainly there are more and now that this latest G-Tactic has hit the papers.  GTAC may only mine in Iron County and leave Ashland County alone. The follow up articles about how Ashland County, and the Bad River Nation will loose out on lots of money are surfacing all over Wisconsin. This is just simply hogwash. You know and so do your operatives know, Iron County does not have enough product to make your grand scheme of rural development practical.  Just more crap spewed out by your operation to confuse the public. Plus the for you armed guards, facility construction, road building, fencing, security guard stations, offices and so on, will not be built for just for an open pit mine in Iron County.  This smacks as a corporate culture that hold local governments and rural communities in contempt of GTactic corporate culture. Apparently the GTactics worked well with the suits in Madison and not so well with the farmers, loggers, fisher folks, and others who consider the Penokee Hills their backyard.

Another Executive, who my have been Gtac’s Managing Director, J. Matthew Fifield left behind what have become very, shall we say, confounding statements regarding Gtac’s compliance with Wisconsin’s laws and willingness to follow these laws. Turns out that neither of these statements was accurate. The questions of who authorized these statements and when did Gtac begin to lobby to change new mining laws is answered will define Fifield's credibility.

Gtac’s Project Manager, Bill Williams, has certainly not made great friends up here. Williams apparently has been indicted in Spain for environmental crimes. During the raging debate over changing our water laws, Williams was asked who wrote the laws. Seems these laws were written by coal mining lawyers from down south.

The net effect is this: politicians are bailing out. Even the bunch that have plenty of money are announcing resignations from the legislature and others have opted to not run again. Government jobs have been offered, the world of lobbyists is growing, and others will try to influence the process from their arm chairs Even your man, the king of the tea baggers, a devotee to the bros Kock is staggered as public confidence is waning, evidenced by the latest polling results. The dude is not even in first place. Gtac’s elite executive team is fumbling once again. A direct result of their growing lack of credibility.

This lack of credibility stated from the very beginning. Another Executive, who my have been Gtac’s Managing Director, J. Matthew Fifield, left behind what have become very, shall we say, confounding statements regarding Gtac’s compliance with Wisconsin’s laws and willingness to follow these laws. Turns out that neither of these statements was accurate. Honest answers to the questions of who authorized these statements and when did Gtac begin to lobby to change new mining laws will define Fifield's credibility.

Gtac’s Project Manager, Bill Williams, has certainly not made great friends up here. Williams apparently has been indicted in Spain for environmental crimes. Reports from folks in Spain have denounced Bill as a “liar”. Those of us living here have every reason be concerned. Under your watch more and more large holes are drilled seemingly every week to monitor water quality. Seems that this wells are, at least part of, the issue with the Spanish courts. Add to this his conduct at Gtac’s One on One sessions was unacceptable. He carried about maps, neatly rolled up and when asked to view a particular map, Bill says “no”. Unacceptable and rude response, especially after advertising these One on One Sessions as an opportunity, to meet the public and talk with your boys. Williams would not even answer questions about who wrote the mining law for

Also, we are learning more and more about Cline coal operations in Illinois.  One of life’s rules has been to not believe everything one hears about someone. A good policy, however, the concerns wandering North cannot be dismissed, without some investigation. Might you arrange for access to one of your Illinois operations? This will provide an opportunity for a couple of us to come down, visit, and ask questions. This will be seen as a good will gesture on your part, especially if lodging is provided.  The specific concern is the aggressive treatment of geologists by your staff. Seems that anyone who does not agree with the GTactic party line becomes the enemy. This does not bode well in our communities.

Bill Williams was asked if he could facilitate a meeting with you and his answer alluded to the fact you were a big shot and did not even have time to meet with him. This is understandable; meeting with Williams is not high on my list either. However, I would be interested in meeting you and discussing this project.

Recently a report surfaced that you were purchasing a rather extensive property in the west. Reports were that you alluded to the natural beauty of the landscape. Easy to relate as this is exactly what the Penokee Hills offer us – natural beauty and the medicines, plants, fishes, animals – all living in a fragile carpet of rivers, streams, wetlands, marshes, and bogs, providing homes for those with two legs, four legs, feathers, fins and scales. Seems that you consider yourself priviledged and for some reason want to surround yourself with nature’s bounty and the expense of our nature’s beauty.

In closing, this letter is posted on savethewatersedge.com and I shall thank you in advance for your cooperation in regards to the request to visit your Illinois Coal tunnels.

Respectfully,

 

Frank K. Koehn

Penokee Hills Education Project Board Member

Savethewatersedge.com Publisher

619 17th Ave. West

Ashland, WI 54806

218.341.882