A state Assembly committee has approved a plan to lift Wisconsin's longstanding moratorium on sulfide mining.
Wisconsin's mining moratorium, signed by former Gov. Tommy Thompson in 1998, requires companies seeking to mine sulfide ores such as copper, zinc or gold to provide examples of similar Canadian or U.S. mines that operated or were closed for 10 years without causing pollution before being able to mine in the state.
Republicans who want to end the moratorium say it's stifling Wisconsin's economy, but Democrats, including Rep. Christine Sinicki of Milwaukee, say it still serves a purpose.
"When you start talking about this type of mining, I don't know if I want to call it doomsday, but you're decimating our environment, our water and our future," Sinicki said.
Rep. Romaine Quinn, R-Rice Lake, said the change would come with some risks, but Wisconsin is equipped to handle them.
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"Some people say it's a cop-out, but I really don't think it's a fair argument for then us to continue to use these minerals in our daily lives and expect someone else to deal with it - and especially people who don't have the expertise, don't have the regulatory climate, and don't have leaders that care about the environment," he said.
The plan passed committee on a party-line vote. It passed a Senate committee earlier this month. It likely will be debated in the full Assembly on Thursday.
Wisconsin Public Radio can be heard in the Twin Ports at 91.3 FM or online at wpr.org/news.
