Dig, baby, dig!

Wisconsin has taconite deposits, and we need to get them out to make the economy move.
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Digging deep — work begins on mining bill

September 27th, 2011

 

By Alissa Smith and Kirsten Adshead | Wisconsin Reporter
MADISON — Controversy is brewing amid renewed discussions of expanding mining in Wisconsin, as partisan bickering Tuesday threatened to overshadow the policy debate — how to encourage mining while protecting Wisconsin's natural environment.

 

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, is forming a special committee aimed at writing legislation to streamline the mine-permitting process, while addressing concerns that killed a similar proposal this spring.

Arguably, however, the committee's beginning has been less than auspicious.

 

Fitzgerald and Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller, D-Monona, traded barbs Tuesday over which Democrats would be appointed to the committee, and by whom.

 

Fitzgerald spokesman Andrew Welhouse said Fitzgerald will meet with Democrats on Wednesday morning to find a consensus, “because at the end of the day we do want to create a committee that is focused on creating jobs.”

 

The legislation isn't directed solely at Gogebic Taconic LLC's planned open-pit iron mine in Wisconsin's Northwoods, but that proposal is driving the discussion.

 

Gogebic has leased the mining rights to 22,000 acres in the Penokee Range near Ashland. But its efforts in the spring to lobby for a faster permitting process with fewer environmental restrictions failed.

 

But lawmakers are revisiting the issue as they strive to boost Wisconsin's sagging economy.

 

“There is certainly a lot of controversy about it," Ashland City Administrator Pete Mann said. "I think the easiest way to see the impact is to visit some of those areas where mining exists at present and see what the benefits and drawbacks have been.” 

 

According to a study by North Star Economics Inc., a Madison-based economic consulting firm, Ashland and Iron counties look to gain around 2,800 jobs. 

As of August, Ashland and Iron counties have unemployment rates of 9.1 percent and 9.3 percent, respectively, among the highest in the state. Comparatively, Wisconsin's statewide unemployment rate was 7.9 percent.

 

Environmental groups are concerned that, in making statutory changes to speed up the permitting process — which, under law, takes a minimum of two years — the Legislature will harm the environment and allow inadequate public input in the process.

 

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Why do ANY Demonrats need to be on the committee?

Anything that causes "environmental groups" concern is a good thing as far as I am concerned!