An analysis by the DNR of the bad Assembly mining bill
that makes it easier for mining and other businesses to undermine
treaties with the Chippewa and excavate, fill and degrade publicly-held
waters and surrounding lands indicates that fees paid by the businesses to the DNR would go down, while DNR's costs would go up.
We
know what means in Walker World: government work and workers,
regulatory oversight and resource protection for the public would just
have to go.
Which is the stated 'shrink-and-drown
government' goal of conservative kingmaker Grover Norquist, and the
practice of Scott Walker.
The treaties cede the land and therefore any control over it from the tribes to the federal government, while only retaining those rights to hunt, fish and gather wild rice. There is simply nothing which refers to controlling how iron is mined far away from the boundaries of the reservation.
ReplyDeleteOf the portions of the bill that relate to environmental protection; the analysis of the legislative reference bureau (which is included as part of the bill), summarizes the changes and impacts the bill will have, states:
” This bill incorporates all of the functional values and criteria that are contained in the DNR
rules for water quality certifications for wetlands. The wetland water quality
standards under the bill require that the impacts must be minimized and that any
remaining significant impacts be offset by compensation or mitigation.”
And:
“Among those requirements is that the proposed withdrawal and use of the water is substantially
consistent with the protection of public health, safety, and welfare; that it will not be
significantly detrimental to the quantity or quality of the waters of this state; that
it will not significantly impair the rights of riparian owners or the applicant obtains
the consent of riparian owners; and that it will not result in significant injury to
public rights in navigable waters.”
As usual your alarmist claims are completely unfounded.
Other pending legislation significantly limits the designation of protected waters and restricts the public's right to contest developmental changes in wetlands, rivers, streams and lakes.
ReplyDeletePlus, DNR rule-making review has been transferred along with those of other agencies rule-making approvals to the Governor: the entire direction of this administration - - beginning with the special bill to permit a wetlands' filling in Green Bay for a sporting goods company - - is to minimize management of what are public water resources as defined by Article IX of the State Constitution.
Overturning protections in place since the Northwest Ordinance of 1787.
Indeed, I AM raising an alarm.
"
ReplyDeleteThe treaties cede the land and therefore any control over it from the tribes to the federal government, while only retaining those rights to hunt, fish and gather wild rice. There is simply nothing which refers to controlling how iron is mined far away from the boundaries of the reservation. "
You're trying to interpret that as claiming that activities which will poison the wild rice beds are okay. They are not. And you will be shown this the hard way with the recall, the litigation, and other actions to prevent this monstrosity.
This bill incorporates all of the functional values and criteria that are contained in the DNR
ReplyDeleterules for water quality certifications for wetlands. The wetland water quality
standards under the bill require that the impacts must be minimized and that any
remaining significant impacts be offset by compensation or mitigation.”
Compensation? mitgation?
Will any amount of money or lessening of the environment impacts really make the rivers and wetlands whole again?
Looks like Mike Morony reads your blog.
ReplyDelete