Mining Impact Coalition of Wisconsin 

Penokee Hills Education Project







CONTACT: Frank Koehn for Immediate Release

TELEPHONE: 218.341.8822

EMAIL: savethewatersedge@gmail.com
WEBSITE: http://www.miningimpactcoalition.org/index.html




MINING IMPACT COALITION OF WI ANNOUNCES

THE OPENING OF THEIR DOWNTOWN ASHLAND OFFICE







March 29, 2013: Ashland, Wi: The Mining Impact Coalition of Wisconsin —Penokee Hills Education Project announces the Grand Opening of their new offices in downtown Ashland, Wisconsin Friday, April 5, from 5 pm - 9pm. at 616 West. Main Street.




Formerly the home of Heart Graphics, the new building will allow the organization to have a base of operations from which to continue providing accurate and educational information to area residents on mining issues that impact the state, but particularly the Lake Superior region.




On March 11, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker signed into law contentious mining legislation that was overwhelmingly vetoed by the citizens of the state. This law was meant to pave the way for an out-of-state, multinational corporation to begin mining in the Penokee Hills. The first stage of the plan calls for a 4-mile open pit mountaintop removal iron ore mine that would go 1000 feet deep, built at the headwaters of the Bad River watershed. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Tom Tiffany (R-Hazelhurst) admitted after the bill passed the senate that it allows the mining company to contaminate the water.




The Mining Impact Coalition of Wisconsin, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization.  Our mission is public education, networking, and grassroots organizing on the environmental, health, social, and economic issues of mining that disproportionately affect Native and rural populations. The Penokee Hills Education Project is an education and outreach project of the Mining Impact Coalition and is focused on issues related to the proposed development of iron mining in northern Wisconsin.

BOB KINCAID OF COAL RIVER MOUNTAIN WATCH TOURS NORTHERN WISCONSIN

SPEAKING ABOUT APPALACHIA’S MODERN MINING EXPERIENCE

Mellen, Wisconsin, November 26, 2012. The Penokee Hills Education Project is proud to present Bob Kincaid, 9th-Generation Appalachian, son of a coal miner, and human rights activist, who will be talking about his community’s experience with modern mining on December 5 and 6. Living in the heart of Appalachia, Kincaid has first-hand experience with the health crisis due to modern mining in the mountains above his home. Instead of bringing prosperity, mountaintop removal mining has brought cancer deaths and birth defects to the people he loves.

Bob Kincaid will be speaking at the Bad River Convention Center in Odanah, Wisconsin at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 5, 2012. On Thursday, December 6, 2012, Northland College will be hosting a panel discussion on Modern Mining at 7:00 p.m. in the Alvord Theater, featuring Bob Kincaid, Jessica Koski, Keeweenaw Bay Indian Community Mining Specialist and Bad River Chairman Mike Wiggins, Jr. These events are free of charge and open to the public and the media.

The Mining Impact Coalition of Wisconsin, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization. Our mission is public education, networking, and grassroots organizing on the environmental, health, social, and economic issues of mining that disproportionately affect Native and rural populations. The Penokee Hills Education Project is an education and outreach project of the Mining Impact Coalition and is focused on issues related to the proposed development of iron mining in northern Wisconsin.

With summer coming to a close and Mining Committee hearings scheduled, it is time to get to work! This last year was a busy one and we anticipate more to come with the possibility of a renewed attempt to introduce mining legislation.

We have been very active in the past year attending and sponsoring many informational meetings throughout the state and region. PHEP members have attended all of the public hearings held in Wisconsin, worked closely with a number of legislators, partnered with Northland College of Ashland, Wisconsin to host a week long series of mining impact programs. We held a day long public Mining Forum in conjunction with a series of programs. 

We were hosts to around 200 citizens, students, conservation groups, boards, staff, and a number of state legislators for tours of the Penokee Range including the proposed mine site.

To stay informed and bring quality information to the public, PHEP has cooperated with many organizations including; Northland College, The League of Conservation Voters, Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, River Alliance, Wisconsin Environmental Advocates, GLIFWC, Trout Unlimited, Sierra Club, Clean Wisconsin, Wisconsin Wildlife Federation.  

PHEP will have a presence at a number of events this fall including the Lake Superior Binational Forum/UMAN conference in Marquette, MI and Fighting Bob Fest in Madison, WI.

Please stay tuned in by liking and sharing us on Facebook and following our Twitter feed. Financial support is always welcome, this helps pay for outreach at events to get the word out. You can donate on our website. Thank you for your support!

CULLEN ANNOUNCES HEARING DATES FOR MINING COMMITTEE
 
Preliminary Informational Hearings Will Focus on Educating
Legislature, Public on Mining Debate
 
(MADISON) – Sen. Tim Cullen (D-Janesville), chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Mining, announced plans for three informational hearings with invited speakers in late September. The hearings will serve to create a greater context for the issues involved in reforming Wisconsin’s mining laws and detail the roles other government entities play in the mining permitting process.

“The committee will not work from any bill from the past session, but will rather focus on Wisconsin’s current law and what changes are warranted, as well as the justification for those potential changes,” Cullen said. “The committee will listen to several invited speakers. My hope is that following these hearings, both the Legislature and the people of Wisconsin will better understand state and federal mining regulations and the critical role that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, federal regulatory agencies, and Native American tribes play in the final determination of whether a permit is granted.”

Cullen said he wants to foster a discussion that allows for input from very different perspectives on the issue of mining regulatory reform. The committee has been in contact with tribal leaders to ensure that Wisconsin’s tribes have a seat at the table. Cullen is hopeful that the tribes will testify at a hearing, but no date has been confirmed. All hearings will begin at 10 a.m. in Room 411 South in the Capitol.
 
Informational Hearing 1
Tuesday, September 18

Dr. Tom Evans, Wisconsin Geological Survey
Rebecca Graser, Army Corps of Engineers
Ann Coakley, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Informational Hearing 2
Thursday, September 20

George Meyer, Wisconsin Wildlife Federation
Dave Boetcher, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
James Buchen & Scott Manley, Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce

Informational Hearing 3
Tuesday, September 25

Stephen Donohue, Wisconsin Mining Association
Jennifer Giegerich, Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters
Amber Meyer Smith, Clean Wisconsin, Inc.

“The committee will hear from a wide range of speakers,” Cullen said. “We understand that there are strong feelings both for and against mining in Wisconsin. Since we already know that, we intend to begin with ‘education’ sessions, then work toward a bill or an outline of a bill, and then get public reaction to it.”

Following the hearings, the committee’s intention is to create an outline of recommendations for mining legislation or a mining bill itself and take that document to one or more public hearings outside of Madison. Cullen said the committee may also travel to Minnesota in October to better understand its mining laws and possibly meet with one or more mining companies currently operating in the state.

Cullen acknowledged that the Senate Minority Leader has yet to appoint Republican members to the committee, but said that if no Republican members have been appointed by the time of the hearings, he would extend an invitation to any interested Republican senator to sit with the committee.

The Senate Select Committee on Mining currently consists of Sen. Tim Cullen (Chair), Sen. Bob Jauch (Vice Chair), Sen. Jon Erpenbach, Sen. Jim Holperin, and Sen. John Lehman.  The Senate Minority Leader has not appointed any Republican members to the committee.