70.37 Net proceeds occupation tax on persons extracting metalliferous minerals in this state.

224 words·~1 min read·/wi/chapter-70/70-37-2

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

(1)Legislative findings. The legislature finds that:

(a)The existence has been announced of several economically significant ore bodies containing copper, zinc, lead, taconite and other metalliferous minerals in this state, including one of the largest zinc deposits in North America.

(b)Metalliferous minerals are valuable, irreplaceable natural resources which, once removed, are forever lost as an economic asset to the state.

(c)The activity of mining metalliferous minerals creates jobs, economic activity, tax revenues and other valuable benefits to the economy and residents of this state.

(d)The activity of mining metalliferous minerals creates additional costs to the state and municipalities for highways, sewers, schools and other improvements which are necessary to accommodate the development of a metalliferous mining industry.

(e)The activity of mining metalliferous minerals has a permanent and often damaging effect on the environment of the state.

(f)The activity of mining metalliferous minerals significantly alters the quality of life in communities directly affected by mining.

(g)As the size of a mining operation increases, the cost to the state and municipalities to support the operation increases, as does the damage to the environment. Furthermore, as the size of a mining operation increases, the person mining metalliferous minerals benefits from economies of scale in the mining operation.