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      WEST ALLIS, Wis. (AP) — Supporters of a bill that would scale
back the state's rigorous permitting process to kick-start a
northwestern Wisconsin iron mine pleaded with legislators during a
hearing Wednesday to pass the measure, calling the mine an economic
god-send that will save the depressed region.


      The Assembly jobs committee is considering a Republican bill
that would revamp the state's permitting process for Gogebic
Taconite, a Florida-based company that wants to open an iron mine
in the Penokee Hills just south of Lake Superior. The company has
promised the project will create hundreds of jobs, but
environmentalists worry the mine will pollute one of the most
pristine areas in the state.


      The jobs committee called the first public hearing on the bill
Wednesday at State Fair Park in West Allis, a Milwaukee suburb some
300 miles from the mine site. Environmentalists and other mine
opponents from northern Wisconsin complained loudly about having to
drive hours to be heard, but Republicans on the committee countered
mining equipment manufacturers are based in southeastern Wisconsin.


      Scores of people found their way to the hearing. They filled two
rooms at the park pavilion hosting the hearing and dozens more
stood in the hallways. Committee aides said at least 130 people had
registered to speak.


      One of the first was Shirl LaBarre, who runs a plumbing business
with her husband in Hayward. She told the committee people in
northern Wisconsin are desperate for work.


      "I respect the earth. I respect the water. (But) we've got to
have jobs. There's nothing now," she said. "It's relatively
simple. It seems like you guys are making it more difficult."


      John Senda, chairman of the Iron County Republican Party, called
northwestern Wisconsin's economy "dysfunctional." He said the
area is totally reliant on tourism, and those jobs pay next to
nothing. He said mining is nothing new in northwestern Wisconsin
and the environment hasn't suffered. Conservationists are resorting
to scare tactics, he said.


      "We still have trout and they don't glow," he said.


      Marvin DeFoe is vice chairman of the Red Cliff Band of Lake
Superior, whose reservation lies about 75 miles north of the
proposed mine site. He told the committee he was speaking for the
fish and the trees.


      "My people would rather have clean water than a job," he said.
"If we just focus on one element - jobs - we're going to miss the
harm we cause."

Gallery

Environmental News

Supporters of a bill that would scale
back the state's rigorous permitting process to kick-start a
northwestern Wisconsin iron mine pleaded with legislators during a
hearing Wednesday to pass the measure, calling the mine an economic
god-send that will save the depressed region.

Hundreds pack hearing on NW Wis. mining bill

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