WISCONSIN MINING BILL GUTTED IN ASSEMBLY, RETURNS TO STATE SENATE Date: Fri, 23 Jan 1998 09:22:58 -0500 From: Zoltan Grossman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> The Sulfide Mining Moratorium Bill was gutted on January 22 in the Wisconsin State Assembly by an Exxon/Republican amendment , and then subsequently passed 75-21. The bill would have banned new sulfide mines in the state until one such mine can be proven to have been closed for ten years without causing pollution. Mining companies have not been able to locate such a mine, but the amendment redefined and weakened the definition of acidic sulfide pollution, making it much morer possible to "prove" that metallic sulfide mining is safe. The bill , SB3, will now be sent to the State Senate where Senators will have the opportunity to reject the gutting amendment, probably on February 3. The Senate passed the bill in March on a bipartisan vote of 29-3, but its current actions are unpredictable in light of the intensive Exxon lobbying campaign, and the even party split in the body. Wisconsin residents are urged to IMMEDIATELY contact their Senator, and ask them to pass the REAL SB3, without the crippling amendments. For e-mail addresses, see http://www.legis.state.wi.us/senate/senate.html If the amendment is not deleted, bill sponsor Rep. Spencer Black will oppose SB3. Sulfide mining in the Northwoods, and particularly Exxon's proposed Crandon mine (next to the Mole Lake Chippewa Reservation and the Wolf River), has become the number one environment issue in Wisconsin. A strong grassroots alliance of Native American nations, sportfishing groups, environmentalists, and unionists has put Exxon on the defensive. Mining and Indian gaming are already the top issues in the upcoming race between Republican Governor Tommy Thompson, and his Democratic (and Exxon opponent ) Ed Garvey. Legislative Republicans want to gut SB3 so Thompson can sign it, to take the issue away from Garvey. Thompson may veto an SB3 that is intact, but mining opponents have many other strategies on the local, state, federal and tribal government levels. For more background on mining, see the Midwest Treaty Network web site at http://www.alphacdc.com/treaty/content.html Wolf Watershed Educational Project c/o Midwest Treaty Network 731 State St., Madison WI 53703 USA Toll-free Hotline (800) 445-8615 Tel/Fax (608) 246-2256 [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alpahcdc.com/treaty/wwep.html
