George Meyer, the WWF Executive Director., posted the following statement on Facebook on behalf of the major statewide organization of hunters, anglers and outdoors enthusiasts over the State Senate's dictatorial management of proposed mining bills. Some supporters of de-regulated mining have tried to paint the opposition to the mining bills as single-minded environmentalists - - as if that was a negative in water-rich Wisconsin- - but the WWF speaks for broad constituencies and will be heard in editorial offices and the Legislature, too.
The
Wisconsin Wildlife Federation President Chuck Matyska issued the
following statement on the Senate dissolution of the Senate Mining
Committee:
“ On behalf of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, I would
like to express in the strongest possible terms our objection to the
dissolution of the Senate Select Committee on Mining and Jobs and the
public hearings that were scheduled on the mining bill. The actions of
the Senate in dissolving that Committee are highly disrespectful to both
supporters of the bill and the opponents of the bill especially those
that live in Iron and Ashland counties.
It also is highly disrespectful
of the Senators of both parties that were serving on that Committee and
were doing a thoughtful job of trying to streamline mining regulations
while still protecting the environment
and assuring that the public would have meaningful public input into any
mining decision.
Lastly, but very importantly, this process is highly
disrespectful of the Bad River Tribe. The Senate is not interacting with
that sovereign nation on an equal government to government basis. Not
only is that a serious breach of governmental protocol, it also will
likely spell doom for the successful permitting of the proposed mining
project in the Penokee Range of southern Ashland and Iron counties.
It is beyond credibility to believe that the Senate could not suffer a bit of inconvenience and adjust its session calendar to allow a thoughtful bill to be produced.
How do you weigh two or three more weeks of deliberation against the very real
potential of having a environmentally damaging mine permitted by the
weak environmental standards of AB 426.”
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