Governor Scott Walker says he hopes the EPA won’t intervene based on political reasons to stop an iron mine permitting process from moving forward.
Wisconsin’s six Chippewa tribes have asked the federal agency to step in before the state DNR or the Army Corps of Engineers reviews a proposed mine in the Penokee Hills. The tribes say water quality and fisheries protected by treaty rights are at stake.
Stopping in Rhinelander today, Governor Walker said state laws offer strong environmental protections.
“We wanted to have a process for safe and environmentally sound mining, and if the EPA actually uses science as opposed to plain politics, we think there’s a way that they can allow both the preservation of natural resources to have safe and environmentally sound mining at the same time.”
Governor Scott Walker attended a fundraiser lunch in Rhinelander for the Oneida County Republican Party.
There he touted job growth and deficit reductions seen during his term, and said he wants to freeze University of Wisconsin tuition for two more years, as well as reduce property taxes.
When asked about the likelihood of falling short on his previously stated goal of a quarter-million jobs in his first term, the governor said he’s not worried.
“I had to make up for the 133-thousand jobs that Jim Doyle lost. We wanted to aim big, to make up for that, and to start off on a positive format. But I think voters aren’t going to penalize someone for aiming big.”
Walker also visited the Vilas County Business Incubator in Manitowish Waters today, to talk with county officials about business development.
