"As we stated from the beginning, a bill of this scope and effect on our northern Wisconsin population and local environment should be crafted in consultation with the tribes located here in Wisconsin. It was a serious misstep to exclude them. Only by having these sovereign nations at the table from the beginning could a bill be crafted that truly ensures efficiency and streamlining for future mining operations in Wisconsin.

First of all, the tribes should have been consulted in order to avoid an inquiry by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which we now learn is occurring under President Obama’s November 5, 2009 Executive Order.

Equally important, though, is that the mining bill affects the Bad River Tribe, which has state status to implement provisions of the Clean Water Act. This means that the Bad River Tribe can object to a proposed mining operation if the operation would jeopardize the Tribe’s own water quality downstream. Such a result seems not just likely but probable, given the extreme gutting of Wisconsin’s environmental protections under AB 426."

Get the Story:
State Rep. Louis J. Molepske, Jr: Senate, Do The Right Thing (The Ashland Current 2/6)

Also Today:
Local Tribe Reacts to Wisconsin Mining Bill's Federal Inquiry (WDIO-TV 2/3)
Senate Mining Committee To Offer Tribe Involvement (The Ashland Current 2/3)

Related Stories:
BIA looks into mining debate that affects tribes in Wisconsin (2/3)
Socialist Worker: Bad River Band protests mining project (2/1)
Mary Pember: Mine in Wisconsin threatens sacred traditions (1/24)