Assembly Mining Committee set to Meet on Wednesday

Posted on February 4, 2013 by samweis

The Penokee Hills, Image: Mario Quintana

On Wednesday, the Assembly Mining Committee is meeting to discuss the mining bill. While they say they’ll consider changes to the environmentally devastating mining bill, we know that the only way to “fix” this mining bill is to start from scratch.

As written, AB 1/SB 1 (the mining bill) cuts the public out of the process and ties the hands of the DNR in protecting our air and water. It grossly rolls back current protections for wetlands, groundwater and lakes, rivers and streams. In short, it swings the door wide open for environmentally destructive mining in our Northwoods and beyond.

Tell your legislator today: Don’t roll back environmental protections for mining.

We know that just one legislator’s vote can make the difference on this devastating legislation and over the next month or so, we need you to continually remind your legislators of what’s at stake to make the difference on this issue. They need to hear from people like me and you, people who don’t want our Northwoods sold to the highest bidder or our pristine waters turned to a toxic stew. From here on out, every voice, every contact matters.

Tell your legislators we don’t want to sacrifice our health, air, water and special places for mining companies – keep mining legislation strong and protective!

Post contributed by Sam Weis, communications director.

Explore the Iron Hills – Art Exhibit in the Capitol

Posted on June 1, 2012 by samweis

The Penokee Hills, Image: Mario Quintana

Residents in and around Madison will have a great opportunity to see exactly what is at stake in the debate to change our mining laws, when an art exhibit called Explore the Iron Hills opens in the Capitol tomorrow (June 2). The exhibit features the work of 18 artists who seek to capture the heart of the Penokee Range in photography, paintings, drawings, poetry and more.

Wisconsin’s eyes turned to Northern Wisconsin’s Penokee Range over a year ago when a mining company called Gogebic Taconite proposed to build a massive open-pit iron mine in this pristine area. The debate stalled after a bill proposed by the company that would have silenced the voice of the public, rolled back environmental protections and eliminated accountability for mining companies failed to pass the Senate and Gogebic Taconite left the state

Despite the departure of Gogebic Taconite, many Wisconsin leaders have indicated they would like to revisit mining legislation in an attempt to lure other mining companies back to the state.

Explore the Iron Hills will give residents the opportunity to better understand the beauty and culture of the Penokee Range, and thus infuse more context into the legislative debate in Madison. An opening reception for the exhibit will take place tomorrow, June 2nd, from 11am to 1pm on the 2nd floor of the Capitol Rotunda, and will be available for viewing through June 9th.

We hope you have the opportunity to check out this great exhibit!

-Post Contributed by Sam Weis, Communications Director

Mark your calendars! Green Bay Mining Forum Scheduled for Thursday

Posted on February 20, 2012 by samweis

Tyler Forks River located near the proposed mine. Photo Credit: Mario Quintana

This Thursday, February 23rd, residents of Northeast Wisconsin will have a great opportunity to learn more about proposed mining legislation and the impact it could have on Wisconsin’s natural resources at a public forum in Green Bay. The event is sponsored by the Brown County Conservation Alliance, the Green Bay Chapter of Trout Unlimited and the Penokee Hills Education Project. Here’s some information sent along by the organizers:

What: A public educational forum to discuss current mining law in Wisconsin and current legislation proposed in the state legislature.

Panelists will include:

George Meyer, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation and past Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Mic Isham, Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) Board of Commissioners chairman and Lac Courte Oreilles tribal council officer

Jennifer Giegerich, Legislative Director of the League of Conservation Voters

When: Thursday, February 23^rd, 6:00-9:00 pm

Where: UW Green Bay, Phoenix Room C

Notes: Each of the panelists will have 25 minutes of presentation about their expertise. The second half of the program will be dedicated to a question and answer portion led by the moderator. The audience is encouraged to ask the panelists questions about the regulations of mining and the legislation that is currently being debated in the Senate. Verbal and written questions will be accepted

-Contributed by Sam Weis, Communications Director