I'm not against a mine, i'm against this bill. But no, i have never watched the show Goldrush. I kind of stopped watching the Discovery Channel since it became less about discovery and more about drama infused "reality TV"

"The DNR, the Army Corp of Engineers, and the EPA all have the responsibility to ensure that the environmental laws are followed." "I have confidence that IF a mine is ever opened, the technology we have now can make mining safe." -wislady
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Well never let it be said that wislady has a problem exposing her ignorance. Clearly reading and comprehension are very different. wislady and those supporting the mining bill are either in denial or just not able to grasp the fact that Republicans have eliminated and watered down (forgive the pun) existing environmental standards so that Gogebic Taconite mining company can contaminate our environment without facing penalty. And because Republican legislators essentially eliminated the fee for waste rock that EVERY OTHER mining operation pays, they have guaranteed that Wisconsin Taxpayers will be funding the cost of cleanup. Republican legislators OWE taxpayers an explanation. It's OUR land and water that's threatened.

I am just curious as to how many on here against this mine actually watch Gold Rush on Discovery?

so you tell me how the waste rock from a hole 4 miles wide, 20 miles long and 1000 feet deep is going to be protected from oxygen and water? They going to put a roof over it? I know it's a long shot, but can you admit you don't have a clue what you're talking about? Tell me WHY a mining bill would redefine an sulfide ore body and specifically exclude iron containing sulfides in a bill written by a mining company? Will it benefit the state and it's people? Or the mining company?

if you truly read the bill, then you have the worst reading comprehension possible. You have no idea what you're reading. Although I seriously doubt you did any such thing. It's much more likely you went to some righty tighty blog posting and got your info and interpretation from there.

Your "breaking news" article from last year, is full of incorrect information.

That must be the study that Cullen got the idea that "rivers of sulfuric acid" would flow.

I have confidence that IF a mine is ever opened, the technology we have now can make mining safe. Wisconsin needs to present the opportunity to allow a PERMIT for mining, and allow the experts to determine if it is safe.

SB1...........passed.

Is this what you want, to be governed by corporations?

"The mayors of Ashland, Bayfield and Washburn were joined by city council and county board members from the north to speak out about the effects a mine would have on the region. GTac, the mining company that authored the bill, plans to build a 21-mile mountaintop removal open pit iron ore mine in the headwaters of the Bad River watershed in Ashland County.

Bayfield Mayor Larry McDonald stood up for the water saying, “I am not against mining. I am against anything that will damage Lake Superior. AB1/SB1 is designed to pollute the water.”

wasp - no they count, they will change their tune when they figure out how to incorporate slot machines in the mine! LOL

People who live there are not happy about this bill, and shouldn't be.
"Members of the Ashland City Council, meeting in a special session the day before the state Senate is due to vote on a mining overhaul bill that would weaken environmental standards for a proposed iron mine in Ashland County, unanimously approved a resolution on Tuesday calling for maintaining tough environmental standards on any new mine development.
The resolution sets a list of requirements that the city demanded apply to any new mining bill. Included is a requirement that would exclude any proposal with the potential to cause acid mine drainage, calls for the involvement of affected communities, including Native American tribes, no reduction of wetlands protection standards and the provision of citizen contested cases in the permitting process.

The resolution also calls for a net tonnage mining tax, 100 percent of which should be distributed to communities around the mine."
http://www.ashlandwi.com/news/article_bb...

"According to the bill, SECTION 55. 293.50 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

293.50 (1) (b) “Sulfide ore body” means a mineral deposit in which nonferrous metals are mixed with sulfide minerals.

(See a full text of the bill here)

As defined in the bill, “ferrous” simply means iron. Thus, according to this provision, a sulfide ore body is one in which metals other than iron are mixed with sulfides.

However, pyrite, which has been shown to be abundant in the area where GTAC is targeting for a four-mile open pit iron ore mine, is also technically defined as “iron sulfide.” As the two geologists testified, the presence of pyrite would create sulfuric acid in the waste products left behind after removal of the iron. Given the amount of pyrite present in the rocks that they sampled, this would be the equivalent of generating billions of gallons of sulfuric acid and dumping them into the Bad River watershed.

In essence, the new mining bill attempts to actually redefine science in order to dupe unknowing legislators, as well as the public, who would not have caught such a glaring and dangerous omission were it not for closer examination by several independent scientists concerned for the health and safety of the state."
http://wcmcoop.com/2012/02/20/breaking-n...

Democrats are experts at filibuster, but at least they didn't flee the state.

Haven't you been watching the proceedings today? It has been on Wis Eye since noon, and is still in session.

If you have questions, go read it. It is silly to ask me to copy and paste the bill when it is open to anyone to read. It is not my job to interpret for you.

The DNR, the Army Corp of Engineers, and the EPA all have the responsibility to ensure that the environmental laws are followed.

KVinehout is getting a bit tiresome, though. At least, Cullen didn't talk about the "rivers of sulfuric acid".

wislady, zdog asked you very specifically, "Tell me it doesn't toss out environmental regulations, take away liability from the mining company, and lay the burden of damage that most definitely will happen at the feet of the tax payer with no recourse against the mining company."

You didn't respond to his request directly, instead replying with the usual subterfuge. Of course, if you had read the entire 180 page bill and 26 page analysis, comprehended what you read, and answered zdog honestly, zdog's request would have required you to admit that the allegations he claimed were true.

I imagine that it's much more convenient for you to spend your time commenting with subterfuge than reading the bills and having the myths you so dearly embrace be destroyed by the truth.

6824 - I think the members of the tribes are, "people that live up there", or don't they count?

I have read the bill, unlike one of the democrats today who admitted he had NOT read it (as he was arguing against it).

Why do some of you always assume that no one has read the bill, if opinions differ?

I am for the project IF it meets all the guidelines set by the various agencies that are supposed to make that decision.

All of the conditions MUST be met BEFORE a permit can be issued. This is not a go ahead for a mine, it is a go ahead for the PERMIT process.

because this isn't just about some mine "up there" There are provisions in this that will affect the entire state of WI. I know they're economically depressed in the North and if I had a good solution for them, I'd give it to them. This option isn't it either, sorry to say. I guess it's easier to feed a pile of crap to desperate people.

6824, I recommend reading the bill. The Republicans just tabled the amendment that would have protected wetlands. This not only applies to the proposed mine site, but to all of WI. This is nothing other than selling WI to the highest bidder, screw the people, wildlife,and the environment. When passed, this bill will be litigated until Scooter and all of his minions are tossed out on their kiesters.

I think some of the anti mine setiment would change if people actually got in their cars and spent some time up there. The state residents that live there have been begging for this for years. Who are we to sit 300 miles away and tell these residents what is best or them.

wislady, I invite you, and impore you to read the damn bill and tell me it doesn't toss out environmental regulations, take away liability from the mining company, and lay the burden of damage that most definitely will happen at the feet of the tax payer with no recourse against the mining company.

http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2013/rel...

There is nothing more inane or childish than attempting to justify a despicable action by giving an example of different despicable action wislady. Grow up. Just as there is no excuse or justification for the Bad River Tribe's continued violation of EPA rules, there is certainly no excuse for Republican legislators to intentionally ignore environmental issues associated with the proposed mine. The Republican proposal FAILS to adequately account for the cost of cleanup leaving Wisconsin Taxpayers on the hook. Why should we allow an industry to remove Wisconsin Taxpayer resources for THEIR profit then leave us to clean up their mess? Republican legislators are NOT doing whats best for taxpayers OR our quality of life. Once the landscape is destroyed in can NEVER be replaced. The long term environmental and tourism benefits provided by the Penokee Range hold significantly more value than the temporary profits of Gogebic Taconite. The communities of Upson, Highbridge, Odanah, Marengo, Mellen and Ashland along with thousands of individual private wells depend on the area's surface and groundwater for their drinking water. Gogebic claims they have no interest in getting around Wisconsin's mining laws and environmental protections, yet they have continued to work behind the scenes with Republican legislators to ELIMINATE those same laws and protections. Republicans are selling out Wisconsin Taxpayers for Gogebic's benefit. The Gogobic mine WILL POLLUTE the air and water while Republican legislators vote to ensure Wisconsin Taxpayers pay for the inevitable clean up.

Does anyone know what wislady gets paid for her posts? And who is doing the paying? Koch Bros.?, Republican party? Scotty's defense fund?

Wislady - Maybe the mining company can sue the tribes over the water quality to show their strong environmental concern. What do you think?

NO, but the Native Americans have, and continue to hurt the environment, and NO ONE is holding them accountable. It has been PROVEN.

There is NO proof of contamination, and no EPA laws have been violated in the proposal for allowing mining permits.

To turn down mining on the speculation of violations is wrong.

What do you propose to make the tribes clean up the water they dirtied?

So, two wrongs make it right in wislady's eyes.

Maybe the Bad River Tribe should take the stand, and explain why they have continued to violate the EPA standard with the wastewater treatment facility in Odanah, Wisconsin.
The violations have been going on for years, and still continue today.

"At times, E. coli levels exceeded 5,400% of what is allowable and phosphate levels were 3 to 5 times what they should have been according to EPA permits. E. coli is a bacteria that comes from human or animal waste or biomass. According to an EPA study, the presence of E. coli "in drinking water is a strong indication of recent sewage or animal waste contamination."

http://mediatrackers.org/2013/02/25/epa-...

http://www.epa-echo.gov/cgi-bin/effluent...

Let the destruction of WI begin. 700 jobs vs. millions in lost tourist dollars, 700 jobs vs. responsible environmental stewardship.
Every legislator that votes for this corporate giveaway should have to drink exclusively from the Bad River for the rest of their lives. Shortsighted bills like this will certainly line the pockets of Scooters buddies, while every taxpayer will have to contribute to the massive cleanup effort after they've extracted their profits.