After being forced to withdraw its initial request because it was riddled with errors, Wolfden Resources today submitted a second rezoning petition to develop a zinc mine at Pickett Mountain
The area Wolfden wants to mine is located in the shadow of Baxter State Park and Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. It contains the headwaters of the West Branch of the Mattawamkeag River, which is sacred to the Penobscot Nation and provides important habitat for endangered Atlantic salmon. The proposed mine would also be next to three State Heritage Brook Trout waters.
“Wolfden has proven time and again that it can’t be trusted. We will review the details of its petition, but there is little doubt that a mine at Pickett Mountain would forever damage the clean water and rich natural resources that support the region’s vibrant outdoor recreation economy,” said Nick Bennett, Staff Scientist at the Natural Resources Council of Maine.
The Penobscot Nation, Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, and more than 700 hundred Mainers and local businesses have spoken out against Wolfden’s plans to pollute the Pickett Mountain region.
“The waters and woods of the northern Katahdin region are no place for a mine,” said Patten resident MaryAlice Mowry. “We are home to Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, Baxter State Park, and pristine waters for fishing and fun. Wolfden Resources is giving us empty promises, ignoring concerns, and creating divisions across our region. No matter how much anyone wants to believe that a mine is the ticket to our future, it is not true. There should be no mine on Pickett Mountain.”
Previous comments by Wolfden’s CEO disrespecting Maine tribes and mining laws prompted outrage from the Penobscot Nation and conservationists. In May 2022, residents of Pembroke voted overwhelmingly to halt Wolfden’s plans to develop a mine in their town, citing the company’s untrustworthy behavior.
Learn more about Wolfden’s proposed mine.
