The introduction of the Mining Give-Away Bill in the Wisconsin State Senate is an extensive collection of provisions that favor mining companies by undermining the current safeguards for our environment. The approval of such a bill threatens every measure that we, as a state, have collectively taken to ensure a healthy future for not only our environment but ourselves as well. The bill should be opposed for a variety of reasons, but here are our Top Ten:
Safe drinking water is more important than boom and bust jobs. The mining industry is notorious for the production of Acid Mine Drainage, which, along with mercury, lead, arsenic, and many other metals, infiltrates our water sources[i]. These contaminants pose a threat to our drinking water and our aquatic ecosystems.
We need long-term, sustainable jobs that don’t jeopardize our natural resources. The mining industry creates “boom and bust” local economies, resulting in unsustainable jobs. In addition, the Mining Give-Away Bill would allow for unlimited amounts of water withdrawal1to the detriment of an irreplaceable natural resource.
Polluters should have to pay for and clean up the messes they make. Pollution at the Flambeau Mine Site is significant even under our current Mining Moratorium Law. Therefore, a decrease in regulations will allow additional mining companies to pollute at a greater cost to taxpayers. The Mining Bill would change the law that requires mining companies to purchase bonds to ensure the mining company will pay for any damage. Without this requirement, taxpayers could be on the hook to pay for the clean-up.
Wisconsin’s wetlands keep our water clean, reduce flooding, and help our wildlife. The Mining Give-Away Bill would relax the permitting process for the destruction of wetlands. As of now, wetlands are recognized as vital aspects of our ecosystem: improving water quality, providing protection from floods, and creating an important environment for wildlife[ii]. The use of wetlands for mining waste disposals would be a significant blow to our environment.
Devastation to water resources caused by Acid Mine Drainage will outlive any potential mine. Acid Mine Drainage is considered mining’s greatest environmental impact in the United States1. The metals the industry is interested in exploiting here are found in metallic sulfide ore. There has yet to be an example of a metallic sulfide mine that has functioned without polluting the environment.
We deserve input on proposals that could impact our communities. Perhaps one of the most striking aspects of the Mining Give-Away Bill is that it would reduce the amount of public input allowed. The bill would remove the current public hearing on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement1. Hearings are crucial for citizens to be able to voice concerns about proposed actions. The bill also deletes the Master Hearing – the hearing where testimony is given under oath – from taking place before decisions are made on mine permits. This takes away the public’s right to challenge the information used until after decisions are made and forces the burden of proof away from the mining company applicant.
Permitting decisions should be well reasoned, not rushed. The Mining Give-Away Bill would create unnecessary deadlines for the Department of Natural Resources to meet when issuing permits. Currently there are no deadlines, given the extensive documents and years of research to analyze, to ensure that the DNR is taking into account every potential impact on the environment. This open-ended process is essential for regulators to properly examine mine permit applications and to protect our ecosystems.
Any industry that needs to remove environmental protections to be profitable isn’t a good industry for Wisconsin. The mining industry already has plenty of exemptions and exceptions from Wisconsin law, coming from the industry itself1. The push for even more advantages by the mining industry simply reflects the instability they feel in a more environmentally conscientious state, and their favors they’re asking for do not have a place in Wisconsin.
Mining and mine wastes require strict and careful monitoring and management for decades or even hundreds of years. The Mining Give-Away Bill takes away the Irrevocable Trust designed to ensure clean-up funding is available for long-term needs. Removing this provision in our law threatens to dump costs on the public while letting a company out of its responsibilities.
Our Future Generations Depend on Us Keeping Our Water Clean for them. There is no doubt that metallic sulfide mining is a source of dangerous water pollution. In order to prevent a hazardous situation for our future generations, it is essential that our legislators place the needs of Wisconsin citizens first and reject the Mining Give-Away Bill. It is essential that our state maintain tough standards to ensure the protection of our environment and ourselves.