The regulation of ferrous metallic mining and related activities. (FE)

This bill changes the laws relating to the regulation of iron mining so that the laws are substantially the same as they existed before enactment of 2013 Wisconsin Act 1 . Under this bill, the laws under which DNR currently regulates metallic mining, other than iron mining, apply to mining for iron and to mining for nonferrous minerals.

Under current law, certain forested land may be designated as managed forest land (MFL) under a program administered by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Under this program, the owner of land designated as MFL makes an annual acreage share payment that is lower than, and in lieu of, the property taxes that normally would be payable. In exchange, the landowner must comply with certain forestry practices and have a management plan prepared for the land. The owner must also open the MFL to the public for hunting, fishing, hiking, sight-seeing, and cross-country skiing, but may designate up to a certain number of acres as being closed to public access. For MFL that is designated as closed, the owner must make an additional payment per acre. If the MFL meets the eligibility requirements under the program, which include minimum acreage requirements and requirements as to how much merchantable timber can be produced on the land, DNR approves the application and issues an order designating the land as MFL.

2013 Wisconsin Act 81 made changes to the MFL program as it relates to ferrous mining activities.

2013 Wisconsin Act 81 generally provided that the requirements with regard to public access to MFL do not apply to an area of land within a certain distance of a proposed iron mining site.

2013 Wisconsin Act 81 also required an MFL owner to make an additional payment per acre for land located in a proposed ferrous mining site if the land is not open to all of the outdoor activities for which public access is generally required. This bill changes the laws with respect to ferrous mining sites located on MFL so that the laws are substantially the same as they existed before enactment of 2013 Wisconsin Act 81 .