Pegasus Executive’s Name Found On List In Kaczynski Cabin Discovery Prompts Mining Company To Tighten Security

Fri., May 10, 1996

Eric Torbenson Staff writer

An executive of Spokane-based Pegasus Gold Inc. was a target for the man authorities believe is the Unabomber, the company said Thursday.

Federal authorities informed the gold mining company last week that the name of a senior executive had been found on a list of other executives at Theodore Kaczynski’s cabin near Lincoln, Mont.

Federal authorities believe Kaczynski is the Unabomber, whose bombs have killed three and injured 23 in nine states over the past 18 years.

The Unabomber’s strong pro-environment views may have clashed with Pegasus’ management of three mines located in Montana. The mining company has spent the last several years in court fighting with the government over the water quality from its Zortman mine, located about 200 miles from Lincoln.

Pegasus also has two other mines in Montana, one of them in Jefferson City, less than 50 miles from Lincoln.

Werner Nennecker, the chairman and chief executive officer of Pegasus, may be the person targeted, said some officials in the mining industry Thursday. But the company would not confirm the identity of the targeted executive.

“It’s one of our senior executives, but that’s all I’ll say,” said John Pearson of the investor relations department at Pegasus. The company has stepped up security measures at its headquarters in the Farm Credit building in downtown Spokane and at other Pegasus offices around the globe.

“It’s too bad we have to go through this,” said Bauer, reached at home Wednesday evening. “But we have to get through it.”

Federal Bureau of Investigation officials would not comment on the situation.

Pegasus was founded in Spokane in 1984 and employs 966 people world-wide.

The company has made a lot of news in Montana since Nennecker joined the company in 1992.

Pegasus continues to negotiate with state and federal environmental agencies over the quality of the water discharged from its Zortman mine in the north central part of the state.

The company awaits final environmental approval to build a new mine called the Zortman Extension near the original Zortman mine.

The company produces about half a million ounces of gold each year, most from mines in Montana and Idaho.

A Great Falls, Mont., grand jury continues to hear evidence that could lead to Kaczynski’s indictment on Unabomber crimes.

The Unabomber’s targets have included university officials, natural resource groups and airlines, which creates the prefix u-n-a.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: ON THE LIST? Aside from Werner Nennecker, the chairman and chief executive officer, other top executives include: Trevor Shultz, senior vice president and chief operating officer Phillips Baker Jr., vice president for finance and chief financial officer Terry Bauer, vice president of environment and governmental affairs.

This sidebar appeared with the story: ON THE LIST? Aside from Werner Nennecker, the chairman and chief executive officer, other top executives include: Trevor Shultz, senior vice president and chief operating officer Phillips Baker Jr., vice president for finance and chief financial officer Terry Bauer, vice president of environment and governmental affairs.

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