Wisconsin Senate set to lift mining moratorium

By: Associated Press//November 7, 2017//

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MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The state Senate is poised to lift Wisconsin’s nearly 20-year ban on gold and silver mining.

Lawmakers passed statutes in 1998 that prevent sulfide-mine operators from opening new mines without first showing a similar mine has operated in North American for 10 years without polluting and a similar mine has been closed for 10 years without polluting.

State environmental officials have never made a final determination that any applicants met those standards, leading critics to brand the requirements a moratorium.

The Senate is scheduled to vote on a Republican bill Tuesday that would eliminate the requirements and loosen mining companies’ financial liability for environmental damage as well as sampling regulations.

The Assembly passed the bill last week. Senate approval would send the proposal on to Gov. Scott Walker.

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