As of 2022, it was "the only example of a metallic mine that was permitted, constructed, operated, and reclaimed under [Wisconsin's] existing regulatory framework.

After mining, the pit would be back-filled with the original waste materials, adding limestone to neutralize acids, and the surface would be returned to a fairly natural state.

Roscoe Churchill led a local citizens' group which was allied with environmentalists across the state and the Ojibwe.

(Kennecott runs an open pit copper mine in Utah that has contaminated groundwater nearby.)

The site was contoured to roughly match the original terrain, with ditches to drain off surface water.

Topsoil was applied, then grasses, wildflowers and trees were planted to provide a fairly natural mix.

For several years after 1999, samples from wells in the former pit showed elevated levels of sulfate, copper, manganese, and iron as expected.

Monitoring wells outside the pit showed some sharp increases in metals and sulfate after 1997, but have been stable or decreasing since 2013.

[1] The water that flows from the mine site into the Flambeau River contains copper, manganese, sulfate, and iron at levels that do not threaten the environment.

Multiple water samples between 2004 and 2008 showed significantly elevated levels of copper, exceeding standards.

[8] A Certificate of Completion for reclamation activities was granted in May 2007; it never into account the groundwater contamination within the back-filled pit and potential impacts of the mine on fish and other aquatic life in the Flambeau River.

Lawsuit concerning the Flambeau Mine:[8] The Wisconsin Resources Protection Council filed a civil lawsuit against the Flambeau Mining Company in U.S. District Court alleging ongoing violations of the Federal Clean Water Act.

The charge was that the discharge of copper, zinc, iron and other pollutants to Stream C was done without a permit and in violation of the Act.

At the same time, the judge praised the company for its environmental practices – recognizing the effort to clean up the pollution, but acknowledging it had not been fully successful.