WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI – News, Weather and Sports |Assembly Discussing Mining Bill

MADISON, Wisconsin (WXOW) – The newest session of the Wisconsin State Assembly began Thursday morning, and among the bills being discussed is one that would soften environmental building regulations to allow the construction of an iron ore mine near Ashland, Wisconsin.

Democratic State Assembly Rep Steve Doyle said he's been told the mine would generate some 600 jobs.

However Doyle, as well as Senator Jennifer Shilling (D, 32nd Senate) said their party does not want to see regulations eased for the project if similar exceptions would then be made for other construction down the road.

"I want to make sure that the Republicans' strip-mining bill does not eliminate the environmental standards that protect our natural resources and drinking water from dangerous arsenic, mercury, and lead poisoning," Shilling said in a written statement.

But Lee Nerison, (R, 96th Assembly District) said the environment will be taken into consideration before the bill is passed.

"This would create a number of jobs, and good paying jobs, at a time when we've got over 13 percent unemployment out there," he said.

"We have to figure out a way to get the mine going and to protect our environment at the same time," Nerison added.

Prior to Wednesday night's State of the State Address, protestors from the UW-Madison voiced their opposition to the bill outside the Capitol.

They said their main concern is the mine would pollute the water supply in the Ashland area, which Native Americans who live there use to grow wild rice.

If the bill passes the assembly, Shilling and the Senate would then be the next ones to take it up.