Ashland-Bayfield League Opposes Mining Bill
In August, the Ashland/Bayfield Counties League of Women Voters adopted a resolution to oppose any new mining legislation in Wisconsin that would change current law and weaken environmental protections, reduce opportunity for citizen comment, or reduce opportunity for legal action.
Testimony on Jan. 11 was given by league member Joyce Kiel to the Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economy, and Small Business at the committee's hearing in Hurley.
The Ashland/Bayfield Counties League of Women Voters is opposed to Assembly Bill 426.
According to Kiel's testimony, the league's stance is a result of the bill's 360-day Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources timeline for considering an iron mining permit and a prohibition placed in the bill on the DNR from considering whether permit application information is based on quality material.
The testimony also shows concern for the bill not giving the DNR authority to monitor an iron mine, inspect an iron mining waste site operating log, issue a stop order if there is a threat to public health or safety, or issue a stop order if there is a threat to the environment.
The bill also allows for wetland destruction, would weaken laws for wetland mitigation, would allow iron mines to be exempt from floodplain and shore land zoning ordinances, and would allow for iron mining waste to be deposited in floodplains and shore land areas under certain circumstances, the testimony reads.
Mining waste could be deposited in areas that would result in violating surface water or groundwater quality standards, groundwater sampling would not necessarily be required, and public and private groundwater supplies would be jeopardized, the league's statement reads.
Kiel also told the committee that the proposed bill eliminates contested case hearings and citizen suits related to iron mining, reduces the number of public hearings required during the permit process, eliminates a requirement to give public notice if an iron mining law exemption is requested, and eliminates public hearings related to requested exemptions.
“In summary, because Assembly Bill 426 both weakens environmental protections and reduces the opportunities for citizen comment and legal redress, the Ashland/Bayfield Counties League of Women Voters opposes the bill,” Kiel writes. “We ask that the Committee not recommend its passage.”