March 30, 2013
The Mining Impact Coalition of Wisconsin —Penokee Hills Education Project announces the Grand Opening of their new offices in downtown Ashland, Wisconsin Friday, April 5, from 5 pm – 9 pm at 616 West Main Street.Formerly the home of Heart Graphics, the new building will allow the organization to have a base of operations from which to continue providing accurate and educational information to area residents on mining issues that impact the state, but particularly the Lake Superior region.
On March 11, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker signed into law contentious mining legislation that was overwhelmingly vetoed by the citizens of the state. This law was meant to pave the way for an out-of-state, multinational corporation to begin mining in the Penokee Hills. The first stage of the plan calls for a 4-mile open pit mountaintop removal iron ore mine that would go 1000 feet deep, built at the headwaters of the Bad River watershed. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Tom Tiffany (R-Hazelhurst) admitted after the bill passed the senate that it allows the mining company to contaminate the water.
The Mining Impact Coalition of Wisconsin, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization. Our mission is public education, networking, and grassroots organizing on the environmental, health, social, and economic issues of mining that disproportionately affect Native and rural populations. The Penokee Hills Education Project is an education and outreach project of the Mining Impact Coalition and is focused on issues related to the proposed development of iron mining in northern Wisconsin.
United In Defense of The Water 