that should end it right there.

For the mining companies this only means there might be more resistance to their plans. But I suspect they knew about the asbestos all along & never planned to share that info w/the residents of those counties.

The folks who so long for jobs from mining need to WAKE UP as things will never be "as they were in the past" when their fathers made a good living from mining. That is a pipe dream.
Gogebic Taconite mining Co. wants to rape our land and leave the mess ASAP. That is all. No pensions or benefits for the miners, loss of tourism, influx of experienced miners & managers from Minnesota, but worse than anything is the permanent insult to the residents & workers health and literal killing/polluting of wildlife & living environment; water, land air etc.

With the increase in efforts to educate the public regarding the predatory agenda of mining companies, their GOP puppets have reacted with aggressive legislation to deregulate environmental protection laws. We must never give up the fight to protect what is left of our environment as the 1% is addicted big time to money/greed no matter what the consequences to our Mother Earth and Her Children!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10849301

http://journaltimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/e73929f6-bb95-5e84-95cc-2a6615052b9c.html

Two Republican state legislators are pushing for a far-reaching new law that would vastly diminish local government power to regulate rock blasting and frac sand mining.

If enacted, the statute would roll back local control of mine reclamation efforts, pollution monitoring and even excavation and disposal of soil and gravel by state highway contractors.

Sen. Tom Tiffany, R-Hazelhurst, on Wednesday circulated an email asking lawmakers to co-sponsor the 14-page bill that he said would provide more "certainty" for mining operations.

More than 115 frac sand mines and processing plants have appeared in Wisconsin in the last two years, and some local governments are resisting, in part because of potential health hazards from silica dust and effects on wells and roads.

Tiffany and Rep. Joan Ballweg, R-Markesan, want a law that would limit the ability of towns to use health and safety ordinances to regulate mining. Instead, town officials' only option would be zoning ordinances that require approval of their county boards. But the bill also would roll back the scope of local zoning authority, according to analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Read more:

"It's really shocking," Kimberlee Wright, executive director of Midwest Environmental Advocates in Madison said Thursday. "Local people should have the right to protect the health and safety of their community."

More people need to see this. The Penokee Hills made it all the way from the Glacial age and they are beautiful! Going to make a donation. Thanks.