The fast-tracked mining bill - - subject of
a public 'hearing' tomorrow, but with the bill's vote and approval by the State Assembly already scheduled for next week - - could conflict with protected environmental status that
an international agreement is about to confer on some of the waterways in the region, reports the Ashland Current:
In December, the deputy director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
requested that the Kakagon and Bad River sloughs be designated as a
wetland of international importance, or a Ramsar site.
The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, also known as
the Ramsar Convention, is a treaty that provides for international
cooperation among 160 countries for the conservation and wise use of
wetlands, according to a news release from the Bad River Band.
The Kakagon and Bad River sloughs complex is located in the
downstream portion of the Bad River Watershed and comprises a large
portion of Lake Superior coastal wetlands.
Add that FUBAR to legal obstacles the plan could face due to
treaties with the Chippewa, and water withdrawal restrictions in the Great Lakes Compact of 2008 signed by eight Great Lakes states and two Canadian provinces, too.
Lots of formidable barriers to this mining operation ever going forward. The Republicons can vote all they want on this. Who cares. The bill is dead on arrival due to tribal laws and Great Lakes compacts.
ReplyDeleteOnce again - the rush to delivery results in shoddy bills laden with the smell of greed.