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Northland radio station WRNC explores mining and the environment on Ecotopia

January 27, 2012

Northland College radio station 97.7 WRNC-LP examines the relationship between mining and the environment in January's installment of Ecotopia. Ecotopia is a monthly radio program produced by WRNC that looks at a topic or series of subjects related to the environment. The program will air Monday, Jan. 30, at 9 a.m. on 97.7 WRNC and again at 7 p.m. on Wisconsin Public Radio stations 91.3 KUWS-FM in Superior and 90.9 WUWS-FM in Ashland.

WRNC's Danielle Kaeding talks with Al Gedicks, sociology professor at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse and author of "Resource Rebels: Native Challenges to Mining and Oil Corporations." Gedicks discusses how a proposed mining bill in Wisconsin may impact the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Also, Gedicks touches on how mining legislation may change the state's environmental standards as the bill is currently written. In addition, Tom Fitz, associate professor of geoscience at Northland College in Ashland, talks about the geology of the mineral deposit in the mining area proposed by Gogebic Taconite.

"If there is a mine, one of the ways that there could be environmental impact is from waste rock piles where the rock has been crushed up," says Fitz. "If rainwater percolates through that and gets into shallow groundwater which discharges into surface water, there could be impacts from that."

In addition, listeners will hear comments from Gogebic Taconite President Bill Williams on proposed mining legislation at a December public hearing courtesy of Wisconsin Eye. Williams talks about the company's need for more regulatory certainty and GTAC's intention to protect the environment if an iron mine is constructed.

"We will avoid every impact we can, minimizing those that we can't and will mitigate those that can not be avoided at all," said Williams at a December hearing before the Wisconsin Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economy and Small Business. "We will not obtain a permit, nor will we be able to maintain a permit, that's issued by the DNR, Army Corps of Engineers and EPA unless we can demonstrate that we will be able to avoid, minimize and mitigate all impacts."

Ecotopia is a WRNC program produced in collaboration with Northland College and the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center in Ashland. People may visit the WRNC website to hear extended interviews with guests and past programs at www.wrnclp.org.