WI Lawmakers Demand Legislature Revisit Mine Law

MADISON - Three Wisconsin lawmakers want to revisit the state's iron mining laws after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers declined the state's request to work with the state toward permits for Gogebic Taconite's potential mine near Mellen.
The project needs both state and federal permission.

A law Republicans passed last year required state regulators to ask the corps to join them in developing a single environmental impact statement.

The corps declined the request last month.

The move could add years to the permitting process.

Sens. Tim Cullen and Bob Jauch, both Democrats, and Dale Schultz, a Republican, sent a letter to their colleagues on Tuesday saying the Legislature should replace the law with quote ''something workable.''

Spokespeople for Republican leaders who control the Legislature didn't immediately return an email message.