Published: February 5, 2024 |

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In a draft decision document, staff of the Maine Land Use Planning Commission has recommended that the commission on Feb. 14 deny Wolfden’s rezoning application for the Pickett Mountain metallic mineral mine located near Mt. Chase.

In the draft document, the commission staff concludes that the proposed mining operation would not result in responsible mining of the metallic mineral resource at Pickett Mountain. And that Wolfden has not demonstrated that the project could represent environmentally responsible exploration and mining.

Last January, the Canadian junior mining company filed its rezoning application with the LUPC to change the zoning for 374 acres at Pickett Mountain in northern Penobscot County to allow for a proposed underground metallic mineral mine.

If the zoning change, from limited use to industrial use, was approved, it would allow Wolfden to seek a state mining permit with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. Without the commission’s rezoning approval, Wolfden can’t proceed with its plans to mine minerals like zinc, copper, and lead at Pickett Mountain.

Following 11 months of extensive document gathering, staff review, public comment, and four days of contentious public hearings, the commission deliberated on the issue in December. The deliberations were held to provide guidance to LUPC staff before drafting the recommendation to either approve or deny the application.

The eight-member commission is charged with determining if the Wolfden project is financially sound, its effect on the region’s socioeconomics, wildlife resources and habitats, natural character, historical and cultural resources and tribal impact, and water and fish resources and aquatic habitat.

During the December deliberations, several commissioners expressed concerns about Wolfden’s ability to responsibly move forward with the Pickett Mountain mining project.

Commissioner Gwen Hilton said that she had seen no evidence or examples that Wolfden mines are high quality developments and not detrimental to the environment.

“I don’t think that they have shown that this is financially practicable at this location. It’s really about this location and the resources that are there,” Hilton said.

“This particular location is really very sensitive and we have to be really careful. I don’t want to see any kind of pollution there,” Hilton added.

In a more than 100-page draft decision, the staff said that “considering all the evidence in the record and its weighing of that evidence, the commission finds that Wolfden has not demonstrated that the project would be financially practicable and technically feasible. Therefore, the commission finds the project is not well-planned and of high value.”

Source: Bangor Daily News

Wolfden Resources Released the Following Update and Options Moving Forward

The commission is scheduled to consider the recommended decision at its February 14, 2024 meeting and to consider the company’s January 19, 2024 request to postpone further action until both Oxford County and Franklin County nominees to the commission are confirmed and can participate.

In preparation for the deliberative session, commission staff prepared a comprehensive assessment of the evidence to assist the commissioners in their deliberations. On every key point, commission staff concluded that the evidence weighed in favor of approval.

In unprecedented actions, early January, the legislative committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry voted against confirming the nominees from these two counties. This action directly interfered in the commission’s ongoing process and leaving potentially two counties without a voice in this important decision. Once there is a final decision on its petition, Wolfden will consider its options moving forward.

The recommended decision document is scheduled to be discussed and potentially voted upon by the commissioners at their next meeting on February 14, 2024. Any final action on the rezoning application requires the affirmative vote of at least five commissioners.

“We are very disappointed that the recommendation today departs from that thorough review and weighing of the evidence. It is also at odds with the commission’s mandate to give increased emphasis to economic development and to honor the rights and participation of local residents and property owners, and is contrary to the conclusions reached by the independent third-party reviewers and determination by the Maine Geological Survey that rezoning was appropriate,” said Ron Little, president and CEO for Wolfden.

A copy of the petition along with related correspondence with LUPC can be found HERE.

Wolfden Resources is an exploration and development company focused on high-margin metallic mineral deposits including base, precious and strategic metals. Its wholly owned Pickett Mountain Project is one of the highest-grade polymetallic projects in North America (Zn, Pb, Cu, Ag, Au) and its two nickel sulphide deposits in Manitoba represent significant development projects with the potential to be domestic sources of ethically produced base and critical metals for the expansion of renewable energy in North America.

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