Iron and Ashland counties, in the very north of Wisconsin, are home to over 300 lakes and serve as a hotspot for outdoor enthusiasts. Ashland County is also home to the Bad River Indian Tribe, who has lived on its reservation since 1854. But these two counties that are celebrated for their natural beauty also suffer from some of the highest unemployment in the state.
If the state Legislature passes legislation that would streamline the mine permitting process, an iron mining company would resume plans for a large-scale mine in the region. The company, Gogebic Taconite, promises to bring much needed job growth to the region but environmental groups, and representatives of the Bad River Tribe say it would come at the environment’s expense of the environment.
The new bill, which would change the current process of applying for mining permits from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, aims to restructure the regulations in a way that would clearly define both the timelines and the amount of information associated with the permitting process. Gogebic Taconite has halted its plans to open a mine in Northern Wisconsin until the bill moves forward.
Legislators and lobbying groups who support the bill claim it streamlines the permitting process and allows for beneficial job and economic growth while still maintaining proper protection for the environment.
Jessie Augustyn, legislative assistant to state Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Hazelhurst, said mining is hindered because the DNR does not have definite guidelines for the permitting process, causing unclear communication between the state agency and mining companies. Augustyn said the legislation would make the permitting process clearer for both sides.
“There’s going to be timelines set up so once the mining company has fulfilled what it’s supposed to give the DNR by statute, the DNR would have a set amount of time to request more information,” Augustyn said.
Augustyn, using an economic report from GTAC’s website, explained the mine would create a large number of short and long-term mining jobs.
“They are estimating several thousand construction jobs, and … about 700 long-term jobs, and those jobs would be around an average compensation package of $82,000 a year,” Augustyn said.
The proposed changes to the permitting process would affect the environmental regulations of any future mining operation. The regulations are important because, as with any other large-scale operation, mining projects have the potential to pollute the environment.
Craig Benson, Geological Engineering chair at UW, said the possibilities for pollution range from groundwater contamination during ore extraction to pollution from trucks involved in transportation.
Any environmental impacts resulting from the prospective GTAC mine would directly affect the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Tribe.
Glenn Stoddard, an attorney representing the Bad River Tribe, said although they are not opposed to mining, a mine in the Bad River Watershed would potentially be “devastating” to water resources, wildlife and Lake Superior.
With these environmental detriments in mind, opponents of the bill claim it would strip environmental protections in state law.
State Sen. Bob Jauch, D-Poplar, said he was concerned about the lack of regulations in the bill. Jauch has criticized Republicans in the assembly for creating a bill “written for” mining companies. He said they failed to properly inform the public and the Senate Select Committee on Mining Jobs, on which Jauch sits, of their plans with the bill.
“I find it extremely curious…that the assembly Republicans have failed to sit down and discuss this issue and try to work with the senate chair who was left in the dark along with the public on that bill,” Jauch said.
Todd Allbaugh, chief of staff for committee member and state Sen. Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center, said they have discussed possible mining legislation for the Senate but has not set a definite timeline for its introduction.
Jauch said he would like to work with Republican senators to “make it a better bill.”
“I am in favor of responsible mining legislation, but it must be legislation that protects the public right to contest the regulatory process and one that does not weaken environmental standard,” Jauch said.
