Wisconsin: Urinal/Sentinal says destroying environment is OK, the fines and 700 jobs are worth it.

[Scuba]

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/up-pits-offer-perspective-on-wisconsin-mine-proposal-e42rvni-133308968.html

The Milwaukee Urinal/Sentinel is at it again, this time pumping up support for Republican plans to "streamline" the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) so they can fast-track mining proposals.

This is a terrible idea for any area; upstream of a fragile wetland should be out of the question.

..snip..

In Wisconsin, Gogebic Taconite has proposed a $1.5 billion mine along state Highway 77 in an undeveloped area that would straddle Iron and Ashland counties.

But in June the company said it was putting those plans on hold until legislators rewrite mining laws that would ease regulations. Environmentalists worry about a rollback in safeguards and fear that Gogebic's deep pit and processing will harm air and water resources.

...

(Similar) mines also are the source of a fish consumption advisory for selenium in surrounding water bodies after elevated levels were detected in 2008, according to the Michigan DEQ.

Steve Casey, a supervisor for the Michigan DEQ, said Cliffs continues to cut selenium discharges. The company says it's cooperating with authorities."We can't do what we're doing without some disturbance to the landscape," Hemmila said.


..end..


As for the selenium polluting water from mine tailings, the JS reports that Cliffs paid a $55,000 fine for this offense. In another part of the article, they note that the spare tires on the massive mining trucks cost $52,000. So basically, they can destroy the environment for the price of a spare tire.

Walker's first "budget repair bill" included language to the effect that the DNR could not assess or comment on the information provided by mining companies in their environmental impact statements. The fact they wanted that clause in there should be enough of a red flag for anyone with concern for our enviroment.

Photo of a similar mine in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Can you see the big trucks? They're the size of two-story houses.

<a href="http://imgur.com/MBT36"><img src="" alt="" title="Hosted by imgur.com" /></a>

[newfie11]

1. and the folks making money off this will move out

Taking their money and leaving the rest of the people to suffer to consequences

[quaker bill]

2. They tried to do that here as well

it failed to get enough support to go anywhere. Bottom line is that they wanted the regulatory agencies to accept any report signed and sealed by a registered professional as gospel. It is one of many themes in republican "regulatory streamlining".

Another one to watch for is changes in law that restrict parties that can have "standing" to challenge any regulatory decision. They have been working steadily to dial this back so that almost no one qualifies.

A further theme is "flattening the structure", which is pushing decision making power down the chain of command, so that people who do not render prompt and favorable decisions can be quickly replaced and so that no politician or high level appointee has to own up to it.

I do this sort of thing for a living.

[Scuba]

3. Thank you. The Repukes here are pushing on both the "standing" and "flattening" issues....

... I'll bet it comes straight from the ALEC playbook.


I appreciate your thoughts. Thanks.