A conservative research group used data from a 2009 New York Times report to criticize the mismanaging of a wastewater treatment plant run by the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, which has recently expressed vocal opposition to a proposed mine near its reservation as members say it will damage waterways.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency data cited by the 2009 report, the Bad River Band wastewater treatment plant committed 241 violations of the Clean Water Act between 2004 and 2008, the most in the state of Wisconsin over that period.
Among these were multiple instances in which excessive levels of EPA regulated substances, primarily E. coli and phosphorous, were found in the water released from the facility, as well as multiple incidents of non-reporting from plant managers.
The report brought to light Tuesday by conservative research group Media Trackers, bears even greater weight as the state Legislature debated the controversial mining bill this week.
State Republicans eager to pass the bill responded to the report by questioning the Bad River Band’s dedication to their waterways.
“Instead of condemning the proposed iron mine as anti-conservation, perhaps the Bad River Band leaders should first look at their own disregard for the environment,” state Rep. Erik Severson, R-Osceola, said in a statement. “It seems hypocritical for the Bad River Band to question the environmental protections of the iron mining bill while their own facility racks up more violations of the Clean Water Act than any other facility in Wisconsin.”
But the tribe has been working closely with the EPA and the Indian Health Service to remedy the technical issues surrounding the plant, in addition to enhancing management stringency to eliminate human error, according to Cyrus Hester, the tribe’s environmental specialist.
EPA spokeswoman Anne Rowan said in a statement that although the Bad River Band is still not in full compliance, discharge quality and reporting violations have been resolved.
Hester said improving water quality had been a tribal priority for years before the proposed mine became an issue.
He also said that Republican accusations are diverting attention from the reality of the situation.
“This is about a bill relaxing environmental regulations statewide and they’re turning around and pointing fingers at us,” Hester said.
