Bad River tribe not taking wait-and-see stance on possible mining bills

Efforts to resurrect legislation to streamline permitting for iron ore mining may be on the back-burner, but a leading opponent is moving ahead as if the fight was still front and center.

Last week’s failed recall of Gov. Scott Walker has Bad River Tribal Chairman Mike Wiggins thinking efforts to fast-track legislation of an iron ore mine aren’t far off:

“I’d have to say I’m concerned. The same threats haven’t changed. The players might change, even the governorship could have changed, but the actual threats to the environment, the actual things that we have stood opposed to are still the same.”

Wiggins and his people’s reservation on Lake Superior, near Ashland, is downstream of the proposed Penokee mine. He says an open pit mine would pollute both the air and water, so they’re obligated to protect their environment:

“We’ve never stopped preparing and trying to strengthen our position to protect ourselves. So, everyday it’s been business as usual, regardless of the recall or anything like that.”

Wiggins’s tribe may soon have another important piece in their arsenal. Last year, they received “Class One” status from the federal EPA to set their own water standards. Since then, they’ve applied for the same rights for air quality standards. Air and water affecting the group would come from a Penokee iron ore mine. If the expected pollution exceeds tribal and EPA standards, then the permit would be denied. Wiggins hopes that’ll force science into future debate:

“To drive it on political rhetoric and false, private corporate-driven numbers and economic discussion is a disservice to everybody, especially us who are going to eat and breathe that stuff.”