Are the state’s existing rules regulating the permitting of mines adequate? Wisconsin Wildlife Federation Executive Director George Meyer says they are. “Shortening the time frame too much, for mining permits can lead to bad decisions, and decisions that get overturned in court. There needs to be really reasonable deadlines for the DNR to do its work on mining permits.” Legislation proposed by Assembly Republicans would set a two-year time line for the approval of a mining permit. “Our organization it not opposed to mining. Just meet the environmental standards and if you meet it fine, the permit should be issued. If not, it should be denied.”
AUDIO: George Meyer (3:15)
Gogebic Taconite has proposed a large open-pit iron ore mine in the Penokee Range region of Iron and Ashland counties. The company has not yet filed for a permit, and critics of the proposed changes to the state’s mining rules believe the rewrite is being pursued solely to benefit Gogebic. “There’s this idea that iron mines are much more environmentally benign, in terms of damage, compared to sulfide mining,” says Meyer. “In fact, iron mines can cause severe environmental damage.”
