Flambeau Mining Company starts operations at the Flambeau Mine in Wisconsin, producing 181,000 tons of copper between 1993 and 1997, as well as gold and silver. The company is a subsidiary of Kennecott Minerals which in turn is wholly owned by Rio Tinto. When the open pit mine closes, the site is “reclaimed” yet the mine continues to contaminate local water streams over two decades later, leaching toxic metals and dangerous chemicals into the nearby Flambeau River as well as the groundwater.
The Flambeau mine and its pollution of the environment is noticeably absent from Rio Tinto’s own timeline.