|
|
Future of Northern Wisconsin Mine Influenced by American Indian Tribe
Monday, February 18th, 2013 -- 8:22 am
Posted by Riley Hebert-News Director
-The future of an iron ore mine in northern Wisconsin could be influenced by an American Indian tribe that opposes the project and recently received authority from the federal government to regulate water pollution on and off the reservation.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved a request by the Bad River Chippewa in 2011 to set water quality standards for the nearly 125,000-acre reservation on the shore of Lake Superior.
This new power also lets the tribe dictate pollution limits on others outside the reservation that could harm tribal rivers such as the Bad River, and streams and wetlands.
The Bad River Chippewa also are seeking authority to regulate air pollution that would allow it to impose standards on large emissions sources.
Gogebic Taconite, and its plans for a $1.5 billion open-pit mine about 5 miles from the tribe's nearest boundary, would have to abide by the Bad River's authority.
|
|
|
VIEW OUR ARCHIVE
|
|
