Star Journal

Top Menu

  • Contact Us
  • Hodag Star Journal E-Edition
  • Subscribe

Main Menu

  • Local
    • News
    • Business
    • Schools
    • Law & Order
    • Arts & Ent
    • Wedding Planner
    • Viewpoint
    • Sports
      • Sports News
      • High School Sports Scores
  • Covid 19
  • Outdoors
  • Wellness
  • Classifieds
    • View Ads
    • Place Ads
  • Our Legals
    • Legal Ads
    • Statewide
  • Obits
  • Lake View
  • Northwoods NOW
  • Living On The Lake
  • Contact Us
  • Hodag Star Journal E-Edition
  • Subscribe

logo

Star Journal

  • Local
    • News
    • Business
    • Schools
    • Law & Order
    • Arts & Ent
    • Wedding Planner
    • Viewpoint
    • Sports
      • Sports News
      • High School Sports Scores
  • Covid 19
  • Outdoors
  • Wellness
  • Classifieds
    • View Ads
    • Place Ads
  • Our Legals
    • Legal Ads
    • Statewide
  • Obits
  • Lake View
  • Northwoods NOW
  • Living On The Lake
LocalNews
Home›Local›County, town officials attend ‘Mining 101’ seminar in Minocqua

County, town officials attend ‘Mining 101’ seminar in Minocqua

By Star Journal
January 25, 2018
2011
0
Share:
Wisconsin Legislative Council attorney Larry Konopacki provides an overview of recent mining legislation at Wednesday's "Mining 101" seminar in Minocqua. Photo by Kevin Boneske

Local zoning recommended as best way to regulate mining

BY KEVIN BONESKE

REPORTER/PHOTOGRAPHER

About 200 county and town officials, along with others interested in mining in Wisconsin, were on hand Wednesday morning at Reuland’s Conference Center in Minocqua for the “Mining 101” seminar hosted by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Wisconsin Towns Association.

The seminar addressed the recent passage of state legislation called the “Mining for America” bill, also known as 2017 Wisconsin Act 134 or Assembly Bill 499, which eliminates the state mining moratorium on the issuance of permits for sulfide ore mining.

That legislation passed both houses largely along party lines with the majority support coming from Republicans and Democrats voting in opposition, with the latter claiming the law would jeopardize clean water and clean air in the state. The measure was approved 53-38 in the Assembly and 19-14 in the Senate.

Counties have been given until July 1 to adopt zoning regulations related to the law before it takes effect.

One of the speakers to discuss AB 499 at the seminar, Wisconsin Legislative Council attorney Larry Konopacki, said the legislation still allows counties to restrict sulfide mining with the zoning code.

“The things that weren’t changed in this legislation include local regulatory authority, particularly in zoning,” Konopacki said. “There were no preemptions of local control or authority included in this legislation.”

In addition, Konopacki said the legislation’s authors, who included State Sen. Tom Tiffany of Hazelhurst, also favored “the idea of a social license” that “allows for there to be community and local involvement and buy-in in that idea.”

“You need more than a license from the (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources), you need more than a license from potentially the Corps of Engineering at the federal level for wetlands, you need a social license, and that isn’t printed on a piece of paper…,” Konopacki said. “Whatever was the law regarding local ability to regulate prior to this bill is still the law after this bill.”

Of the tools local governments have available to regulate land use, Konopacki said there is nothing in Wisconsin law that preempts local zoning when it comes to a use like mining.

“If your zoning says ‘no,’ you have to change your zoning for the answer to become ‘yes,’” he said. “That’s a local decision.”

Konopacki said other types of local regulations for mining, such as a licensing ordinance or local environmental regulations, may not be able to sustain a legal challenge.

For a metallic mining operation to be allowed in Oneida County, where there is currently a metallic mining ordinance in place, county planning and zoning director Karl Jennrich said the land in areas where zoning applies would have to be zoned for manufacturing and industrial use.

In response to AB 499 being passed, Jennrich said the county’s Planning and Development Committee, along with the Forestry, Land and Recreation Committee, have a joint meeting planned for Jan. 31 at 1 p.m. in the County Board Room of the Courthouse. He noted the committees will be looking at the current metallic mining ordinance and consider whether to hire outside legal counsel to make revisions in light of the changes in state law.

The county previously formed a Mining Oversight/Local Impact Committee when Tamerlane Ventures had expressed an interest more than seven years ago in exploring and possibly mining a mineral deposit on county forestland in the town of Lynne. That committee disbanded with the company deciding not to pursue a mining operation there.

TagsFeaturedKarl JennrichMining for America ActOneida County BoardOneida County Forestry Land and Recreation DepartmentOneida County Planning and Development CommitteeOneida County Planning and Zoning Department
Previous Article

Reader cites Trump’s accomplishments

Next Article

Obituary: Leonard F. Cynkar

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Related articles More from author

  • NewsOutdoors

    Funding allows more improvements at Hodag Beach

    July 3, 2018
    By StarJournal
  • NewsSchools

    The School District of Rhinelander Drama Department presents “The 39 Steps”

    March 7, 2017
    By StarJournal
  • BusinessSchools

    Rhinelander Kiwanis outstanding senior

    October 21, 2016
    By StarJournal
  • MultimediaPhoto GallerySports

    BOYS BASKETBALL: Hodags down Medford, clinch first in GNC

    February 14, 2018
    By Star Journal
  • Sports

    HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASTICS: Kuester, Sturtevant qualify for state

    February 23, 2018
    By Star Journal
  • MultimediaPhoto GallerySports

    BOYS BASKETBALL: Hodags win GNC opener over Thunderbirds, 80-43

    December 11, 2017
    By Star Journal

Leave a reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

About Us


Star Journal is published by Multi Media Channels LLC, N2919 County Road QQ Waupaca, WI 54981.

Timeline

  • May 19, 2022

    Obituary: Constance M. Bloom

  • May 19, 2022

    Teens with character

  • May 18, 2022

    Hodag boys track and field wins GNC title

  • May 17, 2022

    Nicolet College academic success honor awarded to jail inmate

  • May 13, 2022

    First Hodag Park improvements underway

Find us on Facebook

  • Contact Us
  • Hodag Star Journal E-Edition
  • Subscribe
Copyright © 2020 Multi Media Channels LLC.
All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted without the prior written consent of Multi Media Channels LLC.
×