Ngaphambi kokutshala izimali ezindaweni ezintsha zezinsiza, izinhlangano zezimayini zamazwe ngamazwe zivame ukushintsha imithetho yezimayini yezwe ukuze zisuse imikhawulo kubunikazi bangaphandle, zehlise izintela, zenze lula ukuvikelwa kwemvelo futhi ziqinisekise ukutholakala kwamanzi adingekayo ezimayini. Ngeminyaka yawo-1990, ngaphansi kwengcindezi yeBhange Lomhlaba kanye ne-International Monetary Fund, izifundazwe ezingaphezu kuka-90 eGlobal South zashintsha imithetho yazo yezimayini ukuze zihehe ukutshalwa kwezimali kwezimayini zangaphandle. Lezi zinyathelo ze-neocolonial, ezivame ukubizwa ngokuthi “izinguquko ze-neoliberal,” manje sezisetshenziselwa ukuvula amaphrojekthi amasha ezimayini esifundeni saseLake Superior eWisconsin, eMichigan naseMinnesota.
UMbusi waseWisconsin u-Scott Walker usanda kutshela abalandeli bakhe eWisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC) ukuthi into ebaluleke kakhulu yakhe esishayamthetho eseshini yangoJanuwari 2013 yesiShayamthetho wukuphasiswa komthethosivivinywa we-Iron Mining owawuyimpikiswano owahlulwa ngevoti elilodwa eSenate yaseWisconsin entwasahlobo edlule. . Ukuze aqhubekisele phambili le ajenda umbusi ucele u-Tim Sullivan, umsizi wakhe okhethekile webhizinisi nokuthuthukiswa kwabasebenzi, ukuthi ahlanganise ndawonye ochwepheshe bezimayini abavela emhlabeni wonke ukuze baqhathanise uhlaka lokulawulwa kwezimayini lwaseWisconsin nezinye izifundazwe. U-Sullivan ungusihlalo we-Wisconsin Mining Association (WMA), umqondisi wesikhathi esidlule we-National Mining Association, kanye nomongameli wangaphambili, i-CEO, kanye nomqondisi we-Bucyrus International, inkampani yezimayini enkulu kunazo zonke emhlabeni, manje ephethwe yi-Caterpillar Corporation.
I-WMA yaqasha i-Behre Dolbear, inkampani yokubonisana ngezimayini emhlabeni wonke egxile ekubhaleni imithetho yezimayini ukuze ivumelane namakhasimende ayo ezinkampani kanye namazwe “ayinselelo” abonakala enobutha embonini yezimayini ukuze aguqule izinqubomgomo zawo. Embikweni wabo bagxeka uMnyango Wezemvelo wase-Wisconsin (WDNR) ngokuvumela “ukubamba iqhaza komphakathi emihlanganweni yobuchwepheshe phakathi kwenkampani yezimayini ne-WDNR ngaphambi kokukhishwa kwe-EIS [isitatimende somthelela kwezemvelo]. Lokhu kuholele ekubambezelekeni kwenqubo, izinkulumo-mpikiswano ezingenalwazi kanye nenqubo yokuma.” Ngamanye amazwi, inkinga yintando yeningi kakhulu kanye nokungafihli lutho ohlelweni lokugunyaza kwemayini.
Lo mthethosivivinywa wabhalwa abagqugquzeli be-Gogebic Taconite (GTac), ingxenye ye-Cline Group, ephethwe yisikhulu samalahle u-Christopher Cline, ofuna ukukhipha insimbi yensimbi yezinga eliphansi (i-taconite) endaweni enamanzi yoMfula i-Bad eduze neLake Superior. Isizathu sonke somthetho ohlukene wokumbiwa kwensimbi okuhlongozwayo sisekelwe embonweni oyiphutha wokuthi ukumbiwa kwensimbi kuhlukile ezimayini ze-metallic sulfide nokuthi ngakho-ke imithetho ekhona yezimayini ye-sulfide ayisebenzi ku-GTac. Ngokusho kukaSullivan, "Sikhuluma ngokumba umgodi, ukuthatha insimbi yensimbi, ukugcwalisa umgodi. Lokho kulula njengoba kuyikho."
Akulula kangako. Nakuba insimbi ingenawo ama-sulfide, kunongqimba lwamatshe olune-sulfide olungaphezu nje kokwakheka kwensimbi obekuzodingeka lukhishwe ukuze lungene ensimbi. Inkinga enkulu ukuthi ama-sulfide edwaleni lemfucumfucu angasabelana namanzi nomoya-mpilo ukuze akhiqize i-sulfuric acid futhi akhiphe izinsimbi ezinzima njenge-arsenic, i-lead ne-mercury emanzini angaphezulu nangaphansi komhlaba. Lokhu kubizwa ngokuthi i-Acid Mine Drainage (AMD). Ngenxa yomthamo omkhulu wamatshe emfucumfucu azokhiqizwa kule mayini ehlongozwayo, ngisho nenani elincane lamaminerali e-sulfide lingakhiqiza umthamo omkhulu wokugeleza kwe-asidi emayini kanye ne-leachate enobuthi. Izazi zokuma komhlaba ezizimele zinikeze ubufakazi eKomitini Elihlanganyelwe Lezezimali laseWisconsin bokuthi i-cubic kilometer eyodwa nje ye-waste rock equkethe amaminerali e-sulfide ingaqukatha okulingana namalitha ayizigidi eziyizinkulungwane eziyi-10 e-sulfuric acid yamandla ebhethri lemoto.
Umthethosivivinywa uqukethe ukukhululwa okusabalele emithethweni ekhona yezemvelo, ukhawulela kakhulu ukubamba iqhaza komphakathi kanye nezizwe ezinhlelweni zokuvumela imayini futhi awukunaki amalungelo esivumelwano se-Ojibwe ezindaweni ezithengiselwe i-U.S. ngekhulu le-19. Imayini yomgodi ovulekile enkulu ezokhipha ukungcola emibhedeni yerayisi yasendle yase-Bad River Ojibwe ingaba imayini enkulu kunazo zonke emlandweni wezwe. Kungeminye yemiklamo embalwa yezimayini ehlongozwayo esifundeni saseLake Superior (bheka “Ukumelana Nezinsiza Zobukoloni Esigodini SeLake Superior,” Umagazini we-Z, Septhemba 2011).
I-Aquila Resources, inkampani yaseCanada ehlola izimayini, icabanga ukuthi ithole igolide eWisconsin naseMichigan. Le nkampani ikhombe amadiphozithi egolide, ithusi ne-zinc eMarathon, eTaylor nase-Oneida Counties enyakatho yeWisconsin nase-Upper Peninsula yaseMichigan kodwa yabhekana nokuphikiswa okuqinile kwendawo kuzo zombili izifundazwe.
Ngemva kwamahora amathathu esakhamuzi esinolwazi oluningi kanye nobufakazi besizwe obumelene nemayini ehlongozwayo yaseLynne ehlobo eledlule, iBhodi Yesifunda sase-Oneida ivotele ngo-12-9 ukuze kumiswe noma yikuphi ukuhlola okuqhubekayo kwezimayini. U-Tom Maulson, uSihlalo we-Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe Tribal, ufakaze ngokuthi, “Noma ngabe yini ezothatha, nomaphi lapho kufanele siye khona, noma yiluphi uhlelo lwezobulungiswa oluzoluthatha ukuze kumiswe ukumbiwa kwezimayini, sizokulandela kuze kube yilapho sithola okuhle, okucacile, nokukholisayo. ubufakazi bokuthi kuzoba izimayini eziphephile emvelweni…Kuze kube yileso sikhathi, i-gah-ween (cha), ngeke yenzeke. Ngeke sikuvumele kwenzeke.”
Ukuphikiswa kwemayini yaseLynne kuhlehlela emuva ngeminyaka yawo-1990 lapho iNoranda Minerals yaseCanada imemezela izinhlelo zokwakha imayini yomgodi ovulekile ukuze kukhishwe i-zinc, umthofu kanye nesiliva endaweni eyixhaphozi nje uhhafu wemayela ukusuka ezindaweni ezibalulekile zokuzalanisa i-walleye River. Noma le ndawo yayingenye yezindawo ezazishisa izikhotha ezimelene nokudoba imikhonto kwase-Ojibwe, izazi zemvelo zendawo zakha ubudlelwano bokusebenzisana ne-Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe. Abadlali bezemidlalo baphinde bajoyina iqembu eliphikisayo lezimayini, ukuvikela izindawo ezinothile zokudoba nokuzingela ezizungeze i-Willow Floage. Ukuphikiswa okunamandla obekungalindelekile, okuhlangene nemibuzo mayelana nomonakalo okungenzeka imayini emaxhaphozini, kwenza uNoranda wahoxa ngo-1993.
Phakathi naleso sikhathi, e-Upper Peninsula yaseMichigan, izakhamizi zendawo eSifundazweni SaseMenominee zahlela iqembu elithi "Front 40" ngo-2003 ngokuphendula imayini yegolide ka-Aquila ethi "Back Forty" eyayizokwakhiwa cishe ngqo ngaphansi koMfula iMenominee. Imayini ingangcolisa kakhulu amanzi aseWisconsin naseMichigan. Amalungu e-Front 40, ngokwesekwa uhulumeni wasekhaya, aphonsele abaphathi bezimayini inselelo ukuthi babonise ukuthi izimayini zingenziwa kanjani ngaphandle kokuthikameze kabi imifula, amachibi namanzi angaphansi komhlaba. Ngemva kokuphikiswa okwandayo, umlingani ka-Aquila webhizinisi elihlanganyelwe, i-Hudbay Minerals yaseCanada, wahoxa kulo msebenzi ngoJulayi 2012. Iphrojekthi isamisiwe ngenkathi u-Aquila efuna uxhaso olusha lwezimali lomsebenzi.
Imayini ye-Metallic Sulfidi ye-PolyMet
Ngaphezu kwezimayini zensimbi ku-Mesabi Range yase-Minnesota, kukhona amadiphozithi amakhulu kodwa ngokuvamile ancike e-copper-nickel sulfide ekugcineni kwebanga elingadala imfucuza engaphezu kwamaphesenti angu-99. Amaphrojekthi amathathu amakhulu e-copper-nickel sulfide asesigabeni sokuthuthukiswa. Iphrojekthi ethuthuke kakhulu yimayini ye-polyMet's NorthMet evulekile yomgodi we-copper-nickel sulfide endaweni yomphakathi e-Superior National Forest, eningizimu ye-Babbitt. I-PolyMet yinkampani yaseCanada engenalo ulwazi lwezimayini. Inkampani yaseSwitzerland yamazwe ngamazwe, iGlencore, esanda kuthola inkampani yezimayini i-Xstrata, ingumnikazi noma inezinketho ezifika kumaphesenti angama-36 enkampani yaseMinnesota. Inkampani entsha, i-Glencore Xstrata International, manje isiyinkampani yesine enkulukazi yezimayini ehlukahlukene emhlabeni enenani lemakethe elicishe libe ngamabhiliyoni angama-90.
I-PolyMet isanda kuqasha u-Jon Cherry njengomongameli wayo omusha kanye ne-CEO. Ngaphambi kwalokhu, uCherry wayephethe omunye wemisebenzi yezimayini enempikiswano enkulu esifundeni: iphrojekthi ye-Kennecott Eagle nickel-copper yaseRio Tinto e-Upper Peninsula yaseMichigan. Indlela yokungena emayini ise-Eagle Rock noma Migi ziwasin, isayithi elingcwele le-Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC). Amalungu e-KBIC kanye nabasekeli bawo okungebona abomdabu bathatha lesi siza ngemva kokuba uMnyango Wekhwalithi Yezemvelo waseMichigan ukhiphe isinqumo sokuthi izakhiwo kuphela ezingabhekwa “njengezindawo zokukhulekela” futhi wanikezwa imvume yokumba u-Kennecott ngo-2010. I-KBIC isinxuse iZizwe Ezihlangene ngenxa yokuthi imayini yoKhozi. , esakhiwayo, kubeka engcupheni amalungelo amasiko nemithombo yemvelo yesizwe, kuhlanganise nokucekelwa phansi kwendawo engcwele. I-PolyMet ibhekene nezinkinga ezifanayo eMinnesota.
I-U.S. Forest Service ingumnikazi womhlaba kodwa i-PolyMet iphethe amalungelo amaminerali angaphansi komhlaba. I-USFS ayizivumeli izimayini ezihlutshiwe emhlabeni wombuso ongaphakathi kwe-Superior National Forest lapho imayini yaseNorthMet izotholakala khona. Ukuze iphrojekthi iqhubeke ngaphandle kokudinga ukuvikelwa kwamanje kombuso kubakhokhintela, imvelo noma amalungelo esizwe, Omele U.S. Chip Cravaack (R-MN) wethula umthetho (HR 5544)—owaphasisa iNdlu ngo-Okthoba—owayezodlulisela amashumi izinkulungwane zamahektha ezindawo ezivikelekile Zamahlathi Kazwelonke zibe ngaphansi kokuphathwa kombuso ukuze amasimu agawulwe kakhulu futhi akhishwe ukuze kuzuze izinhlangano zezimayini zamazwe ngamazwe.
Uma lokhu kushintshana kuvunyelwe, kuzothinta ngokuqondile amalungelo endawo agodliwe amaqembu amathathu e-Ojibwe ukuzingela, ukudoba nokusebenzisa umhlaba owadayiselwa i-United States ngeSivumelwano sika-1854. Awekho amabhendi e-Ojibwe okwathintwa ngawo mayelana nalo mthetho njengoba kudingwa yisivumelwano kanye ne-Executive Orders edinga uhulumeni ukuthi kuxoxiswane naye mayelana nezindaba ezihlobene nezenzo ze-Federal.
Ukungalungi kwezemvelo kwalesi siphakamiso akugcini nje ngokuphulwa kwamalungelo esivumelwano se-Ojibwe e-Superior National Forest. Amachibi nemifudlana ezansi nomfula esuka kule mayini ehlongozwayo sekuvele konakele ngenxa yokungcoliswa kwe-mercury okuholela ekwelulekeni ngokusetshenziswa kwezinhlanzi. NgoFebhuwari 2010 i-U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) yabuyekeza isitatimende sezemvelo esisalungiswa se-PolyMet (DEIS) futhi yaphetha ngokuthi imayini ye-PolyMet “izobangela imithelela engamukeleki neyesikhathi eside yekhwalithi yamanzi, ehlanganisa ukweqa izinga lekhwalithi yamanzi, ukudedela ukuchithwa kwamanzi angcolile okungancishisiwe imithombo yamanzi [ngesikhathi sokusebenza nangenkathi yokuvalwa kwayo], nokwanda kwe-mercury elayishwa eLake Superior watershed.” I-EPA yanikeza i-DEIS isilinganiso esiphansi kunazo zonke futhi yathi iphrojekthi akufanele iqhubeke njengoba kuhlongoziwe.
Nakuba ukulayishwa kwe-mercury okwenyuka kungaba nomthelela ongefani emiphakathini yase-Ojibwe ethembele ezinhlanzini ukuze iziphilise, i-EPA ithole ukuthi amazinga ekhwalithi yamanzi esizwe kanye namazinga aphezulu okusetshenziswa kwezinhlanzi zamabhande e-Fond du Lac kanye ne-Grand Portage Ojibwe ayengakacatshangelwa. Ukuthola amanzi omfula i-St. Louis River, i-tributary enkulu kunazo zonke eLake Superior, kakade kukholakala ukuthi iphazamisekile ngenxa yelayisi lasendle ngenxa yokukhishwa kwe-taconite yezimayini ye-sulfate, kodwa okwamanje akukafakwa ohlwini olunjalo ngumbuso. Abavuni bezizwe zelayisi yasendle emanzini angase athinteke kabi ngokuphuma kwe-sulfate ye-PolyMet kanye nezinguquko kumazinga amanzi. Isitatimende somthelela esisalungiswa esisalungiswa sePolyMet sihlelelwe ukukhishwa maphakathi no-2013.
Zonke lezi zinsalela zitholakala ezinhlakeni ze-sulfide ore ezinamandla okukhiqiza ukugeleza kwemayini ye-asidi futhi zingcolise amanzi endawo. Sekuvele kunokungcoliswa okuphawulekayo kwemercury esifundeni saseLake Superior kusukela ezimayini zensimbi nezethusi esikhathini esidlule nesamanje. Amazinga aphezulu e-mercury e-Lake Superior fish abeka ingozi enkulu empilweni kwabesifazane abakhulelwe nomama abancelisayo abangadlulisela i-mercury kubantwana babo esibelethweni. I-Mercury iyi-neurotoxin ethinta ubuchopho, izinso kanye nohlelo lwezinzwa lwengane ekhulayo.
Ucwaningo lwakamuva loMnyango Wezempilo waseMinnesota lubheke amazinga e-mercury ezinganeni ezisanda kuzalwa eMinnesota, Wisconsin naseMichigan. Bathole ukuthi ingane eyodwa kweziyi-10 ezalwe eNorth Shore yaseMinnesota yayinamazinga angenampilo e-mercury egazini labo. Abacwaningi basola ukuthi ama-sulfate aphuma kumfucumfucu wasemayini ye-sulfide asheshisa ukukhiqizwa kwe-methyl mercury ethathwa izinhlanzi nezilwane zasendle, okuholela ekwelulekeni ngokusetshenziswa kwezinhlanzi. Ama-sulfate aphakeme abuye acekele phansi izitezi zerayisi zasendle zemvelo.
Umthetho we-Wisconsin "Prove it First".
Imithetho entekenteke kanye nokungalandelwa komthetho kubukela phansi imizamo yokuvikela amanzi ethu, izilwane zasendle kanye nemiphakathi kulolu hlobo oluyingozi lwezimayini,” ngokusho kukaMichelle Halley, ummeli weNational Wildlife Federation (NWF) nombhali wocwaningo lwayo lwakamuva lokulawulwa kwezimayini ze-metallic sulfide. esifundeni saseGreat Lakes. "Kunesidingo esiphuthumayo sokuthi isifunda sibhekane nalezi zinkinga manje noma kungenzeka sibhekane namashumi eminyaka okungcola nokuhlanza," kusho uHalley. I-EPA ilinganisela ukuthi amanzi aphuma emanzini angaphezu kwamaphesenti angu-40 emifudlana entshonalanga ye-United States angcoliswe ukungcola okuvela ezimayini ze-hardrock (ithusi, igolide namanye amaminerali angewona amafutha). Izimayini ze-Copper sulfide ziwumthombo omkhulu wesikweletu sabakhokhi bentela ngaphansi kohlelo lwe-EPA’s Superfund yokuhlanza.
Kwakuyilo rekhodi lokungcoliswa kwezimayini ze-sulfide elabangela inhlangano enkulu emazingeni aphansi yezemvelo, ukudoba kwezemidlalo, kanye nokuphikisa ngempumelelo imayini ye-Exxon ye-metallic sulfide emaphethelweni omfula i-Wolf River futhi ishaye umthetho oyingqophamlando we-Wisconsin Mining Moratorium Law, owaziwa nangokuthi “Prove it” ye-Wisconsin. Okokuqala” umthetho ngo-1998. Lo mthetho waphasiswa ngama-bi-partisan margins amakhulu (27-6 eSenate kanye nama-91-6 eSishayamthetho). Izinhlangano ezingaphezu kuka-60 zisekele lo mthetho kanye nezikhalazo ezisayinwe izakhamuzi ezingaphezu kuka-40,000.
Umthetho udinga ukuthi ngaphambi kokuba umbuso ukhiphe imvume yokumbiwa kwezimbiwa ze-sulfide ore, abazoba abavukuzi kufanele banikeze isibonelo salapho imayini ye-metallic sulfide e-United States noma e-Canada ingazange ingcolise indawo noma amanzi angaphansi komhlaba ngesikhathi noma ngemva kokumba. Kuze kube manje, imboni ayikwazanga ukuthola isibonelo esisodwa lapho bembe khona ngaphandle kokungcolisa amanzi. Ucwaningo lwe-NWF lubize umthetho we-Wisconsin othi “Prove it First” njengomthetho oyisibonelo.
Ingakwazi ukumba imizimba ye-sulfide ore ngaphandle kokungcolisa imithombo yamanzi (njengoba kudingwa umthetho wokumisa) imboni izama ukuqeda umthetho. "Sizothatha isinqumo sokuthi uma ukumiswa kwesinqumo kuhamba, lokho kuzoba uphawu olubaluleke kakhulu ezinkampanini zezimayini," kusho u-Ron Kuehn, umgqugquzeli we-Aquila Resources. Selokhu kwaphasiswa lo mthetho, imboni yezimayini yamazwe ngamazwe ibeke iWisconsin phakathi kwezindawo ezikhanga kakhulu zokutshalwa kwezimali ezimayini.
Ukushintsha isimo sokutshalwa kwezimali, i-Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC) namanye amaqembu angaphandle akhokhele u-$2 million ezikhangisweni zokuhlasela ukuze anqobe u-Jess King (D-Oshkosh) owayevote ngokumelene nomthethosivivinywa we-Iron Mining. Ngezikhulu ezintsha ze-GOP esiShayamthetho sase-Wisconsin, uMbusi uScott Walker, kanye ne-Wisconsin Mining Association (WMA) kanye ne-WMC, wenze ukuchithwa kwe-“Prove it First” kwaba yinto ehamba phambili yabo yomthetho ngo-2013.
UTim Sullivan nguyena ohamba phambili ekuhlaseleni. Usanda kutshela Ikomidi Lezimayini LeSigele SaseWisconsin ukuthi i-Wisconsin Mining Moratorium yayiyisithiyo eziphakamisweni ezintsha zemayini ye-sulfide. "Namuhla, ezinye zezimbiwa ezicebe kakhulu ezweni lethu zingcwatshwe ngaphansi kweWisconsin futhi izinkulungwane zemisebenzi emihle zingcwatshwe lapho nazo," kusho yena.
Imayini yeFlambeau
Abagqugquzeli bezimayini baveze “impumelelo” yemayini ye-Flambeau metallic sulfide ebuyiselwe kancane eLadysmith, eWisconsin njengesizathu esikhulu sokuchitha umthetho othi “Prove it First”. "Isigungu sokumisa sithi inkampani kufanele iqinisekise ukuthi imayini yavalwa ngempumelelo iminyaka eyi-10, kusho uRon Kuehn ka-Aquila. “Ngokumangalisayo, isibonelo esihle kunazo zonke esaziyo silapha eWisconsin. Lokho ukufunda kwethu ngakho. ”
Uma imayini ye-Flambeau iyisibonelo esihle kakhulu imboni engaqhamuka naso, khona-ke le mayini enamaphutha iyisizathu esikhulu sokuthi kungani umthetho we-Wisconsin othi "Prove it First" udinga ukuhlala usendaweni. Imayini yaseFlambeau, ekaKennecott/Rio Tinto, yasebenza iminyaka emine futhi yavalwa ngo-1997. Ukubuyiselwa kabusha kwaqala ngo-1998 futhi akukakaqediwe.
Ngo-2007, i-Flambeau Mining Company (FMC) yafaka isicelo seSitifiketi Sokuqedwa (COC) sokubuyiselwa kwemayini. Izinhlangano eziningana zezemvelo, kanye nesizwe sase-Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe, baphonsela inselelo i-COC ngoba ukuqapha endaweni kwabonisa ukuthi ukubuyiselwa kabusha bekungaphelele nje kuphela kodwa nokuthi le ndawo ibingcolisa i-Stream C eseduze, i-tributary yoMfula iFlambeau, iminyaka eminingi. . Eqinisweni, wonke amasampula amanzi aqoqwe uMnyango Wezemvelo wase-Wisconsin (DNR) noma i-FMC kusukela ngo-1999 abonisa ukugxiliswa kwethusi emanzini esiphepho emayini adlula I-Acute Toxicity Criterion yethusi esungulwe yi-DNR ukuvikela izinhlanzi kanye nempilo yasemanzini.
Inkampani yathola ingxenye ye-COC kodwa yenqatshelwa isitifiketi se-Stream C lapho i-FMC ikhiphe amanzi angcolile endaweni yemayini kusukela ngo-1998. Imizamo yokuhlanza eyalandela ye-FMC yehlulekile ukumisa ukungcoliswa kwe-Stream C. Ngenkathi i-DNR yenqaba ukusho inkampani ngokwephula umthetho, i I-Wisconsin Resources Protection Council (WRPC), iCentre for Biological Diversity kanye nelungu le-WRPC uLaura Gauger bafake icala lombuso ngokumelene nenkampani. IJaji lesiFunda sase-U.S. u-Barbara Crabb usanda kukhipha isinqumo sokuthi i-FMC yephule uMthetho Wamanzi Ahlanzekile ngamacala amaningi. Ukwephulwa kwemithetho okwafakazelwa ecaleni futhi ngaphansi kwezijeziso kwenzeka phakathi kuka-2007 no-2012. Ubufakazi obucacile nobungenakuphikiswa bubonisa ukwephulwa okubucayi nakakhulu kwenzeke phakathi kuka-1999 no-2006 kodwa kwakungaphandle kwesimiso seminyaka engu-5 semikhawulo.
Ngaphansi kwemigomo yeMoratorium Law, iFlambeau ayikwazi ukusetshenziswa njengesibonelo imayini ukuhlangabezana nomthetho njengoba ingcolisa i-Stream C. I-Wisconsin DNR isanda kuphothula uphenyo lwekhwalithi yamanzi endaweni yemayini futhi yancoma ukuthi i-Stream C ifakwe endaweni yayo. uhlu "lwamanzi angasebenzi kahle" lwango-2012 "lobuthi obunamandla emanzini" obubangelwa ithusi ne-zinc. Ngasekuqaleni konyaka i-DNR ikhiphe umbiko oxhumanisa ngqo lokhu kungcola nemayini yaseFlambeau.
Nakuba icala loMthetho Wamanzi Ahlanzekile lingazange libhekane nezinkinga zokungcoliswa kwamanzi angaphansi komhlaba endaweni yemayini yaseFlambeau (isenzo siqondene ngqo nezindaba zekhwalithi yamanzi angaphezulu) kukhona ukungcoliswa kwamanzi angaphansi komhlaba okubalulekile ngaphakathi komgodi ogcwaliswe ngemuva cishe ngamafidi angu-600 ukusuka emfuleni iFlambeau. UDkt David Chambers kanye noDkt. Kendra Zamzow weSikhungo Sesayensi Ekuhlanganyeleni Komphakathi e-Bozeman, e-Montana benza ucwaningo lwedatha ye-FMC ngokwayo ekuqaphelweni kwemithombo ngaphakathi komgodi ogcwele emuva. Bathola amazinga e-manganese aphezulu njengo-42,000 mcg/l. Izincwadi zezokwelapha zibika ukuthi ukudla amanzi anezinga le-manganese elingaba ngu-14,000 mcg/l, (i-1/3 kuphela yalokho okutholwe emthonjeni wokuqapha), kuhambisana nohlobo lokulimala kwezinzwa okubonwa ku-Parkinson’s Disease.
Abasekeli bezimayini badukisa isishayamthetho kanye nomphakathi ngokucaphuna Imayini yase-Kennecott's Flambeau njengesibonelo sokumba okuphephile kwemvelo. Imboni yezimayini icaphune imayini yaseFlambeau ukuze ithethelele izimayini ze-metallic sulfide eMichigan, Minnesota nase-Alaska. Kodwa izinkinga zokungcoliswa kwamanzi angaphansi komhlaba namanzi angaphezulu endaweni yezimayini zaseFlambeau ziqinisekisa isidingo sokugcina uMthetho weWisconsin othi “Prove it First” ezincwadini.
Uma imboni yezimayini ingakwazi ukusiza ekungcoliseni amanzi kwenye yezimayini ze-metallic sulfide ezincane kunazo zonke esifundazweni, yini esingayilindela ezimayini ezinkulu ezihlongozwayo e-Bad River watershed nase-Menominee River? Kungani izishayamthetho zaseWisconsin zingacabangela ukuhoxiswa kwezimayini lapho izingozi ze-metallic sulfide zaziwa kahle?
Imisebenzi, Imisebenzi, Imisebenzi
U-Governor Walker utshele abalandeli bakhe ku-WMC ukuthi uma umthethosivivinywa we-Iron Mining uphasiswa ngo-2013, i-GTac "izoqhubekela phambili nemayini ezobeka abantu ukuthi basebenze besuka elulwaneni." USenator Bob Jauch (D-Poplar), isifunda sakhe esihlanganisa imayini ehlongozwayo, uthe umbusi "uyakhohlisa" uma ekholelwa lokho akutshele abaholi bamabhizinisi mayelana nezinguquko ezingaba khona emithethweni yezimayini yezwe. "Umbusi wenza kabi kakhulu abantu baseWisconsin ngokuphakamisa ukuthi ngandlela thize kuzoba nomsebenzi wokwakha nokudala imisebenzi eminingi ngonyaka ka-2013 uma siphasisa lo mthetho."
UJauch wachaza ukuthi noma ngabe umthethosivivinywa we-Iron Mining udlula, kuzothatha inkampani okungenani iminyaka emibili ukuthola imvume yokuqala ukwakha. Ngisho noma bethole imvume, ukwakhiwa kwemayini mancane kakhulu amathuba okuthi uma kubhekwa ukwehla kwesidingo sensimbi samaShayina. Izintengo zensimbi zehla zisuka ku-$150/ton ngo-Ephreli zaya ku-$87 ngoSepthemba 2012. I-Cliffs Natural Resources, umkhiqizi omkhulu kunawo wonke we-iron ore pellets esizweni, idiliza abasebenzi abangu-125 eNorthshore Mining eMinnesota kanye nabasebenzi abangu-500 eMayini yayo i-Empire Mine eMichigan ngenxa amanani ensimbi ewayo.
Zonke izithembiso mayelana nemisebenzi yezimayini azikunaki ukuntengantenga okwedlulele kwamanani entengo yensimbi kanye nokuthambekela kwesikhathi eside kwezimayini ezizenzakalelayo. Izithembiso ezinjalo futhi aziyishayi mkhuba futhi zilulaza yonke imisebenzi ekhona nezindlela zokuphila ezincike emanzini ahlanzekile azosongelwa ukungcoliswa okukhulu kwezimayini.
Uma lingekho ithemba elisheshayo lemisebenzi yezimayini, yikuphi ukuxhamazela kokuphasisa umthethosivivinywa wezimayini ozoluqeda ngokuphelele uhlaka lokulawula lwezimayini lwaseWisconsin futhi ukhiphele ngaphandle umphakathi kanye nohulumeni bezizwe ohlelweni lokuthatha izinqumo? I-ajenda yezepolitiki enkulu yemboni yezimayini iwukuqeda uMthetho we-Wisconsin othi “Prove it First” olokhu ubonakala ngokwanda njengemodeli yokulawulwa kwe-metallic sulfide e-Minnesota, Michigan nanoma yikuphi lapho izimayini ze-sulfide ziphikiswana khona imiphakathi yendawo. Imboni yezimayini ayifuni ukuvikela irekhodi layo elibi lezimayini ze-metallic sulfide.
Ungalindeli izakhamizi zaseWisconsin kanye nezizwe ukuthi zivumele ukuchithwa kweMining Moratorium ngaphandle kokulwa. Umbhikisho omkhulu enhloko-dolobha yombuso ukuvikela i-Moratorium Yezimayini usubizelwe uJanuwari 26 lapho isishayamthetho sihlangana kabusha.
Incwadi yokungena eya kubaphathi bezomthetho baseWisconsin kanye nombusi enxusa ukwenqatshwa komthethosivivinywa we-Iron Mining kanye nokuchithwa kwe-“Prove it First” iyatholakala kokuthi http: wisconsin.sierra club.org/mining.asp.
Z
U-Al Gedicks unguprofesa ophumayo wesayensi yezokuhlalisana kwabantu eNyuvesi yaseWisconsin-La Crosse kanye noNobhala Omkhulu woMkhandlu Wokuvikela Izinsiza zaseWisconsin. Ungumbhali we Izihlubuki Zezinsiza: Izinselele Zomdabu Ezimbonini Zezimayini Nezamafutha, South End Press, 2001).