One amendment would require that technology at a proposed mining site be capable of meeting state environmental standards. Another would require an applicant to submit a plan and be granted a permit from the DNR before starting any bulk sampling activity.

Two others would effectively eliminate the "irrevocable trust in perpetuity" currently required of sulfide mining companies to ensure funding to pay for any future environmental costs.

Under the amendments, the trust agreement is replaced with two separate bonds. One would require a mining company to file a bond before mining begins to cover "unforeseen remedial contingencies" — such as spills or leaks — for 40 years after mining is completed. The second would require the company to demonstrate financial responsibility when the mine is closed to cover "reasonably anticipated costs" — such as repairs and replacements — up to 250 years after the mine's closure.

Passing the bill would give hope to an area of the state that is seeing its population age and become increasingly poor, Tiffany said, noting that northern Wisconsin has benefited less from economic development initiatives than other regions.

"People want to make things once again in America, and you can’t make things without raw materials," Tiffany said. "I believe we do have some ethical duty to produce some of those raw materials right here in the United States, here in Wisconsin."

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