Work Continues To Close Penokee Hills Mining Site

Mining company Gogebic Taconite might no longer be pursuing plans to build a $1.5 billion iron ore mine in northern Wisconsin, but work is still being done at the proposed site.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources hydrogeologist Larry Lynch said the mining company will begin sealing some holes where GTAC drilled core samples in February.

“You have to run a pipe to the bottom of the hole and fill the hole from bottom to top with cement,” he said.

Lynch said the mining company is preparing roads to the site for bringing in drill rigs. He said they’d like the work completed this winter to cut back on environmental impacts.

“Some of the roads are in some fairly wet areas so when they’re all frozen, that’s the best time to do it,” he said.

Lynch said GTAC has maintained a $121,000 bond while the drill holes and monitoring wells remain open at the site. He said they will release the bond to the mining company once the mining company has certified they’ve completed work on site.

La Pointe Iron Co. and RGGS Land & Minerals own the mineral deposit at the site. David Adams, president of La Pointe Iron Co., said they’re not interested in taking over monitoring of the wells or keeping the drill holes open.

“We’d rather just reclaim it and call it good,” said Adams.

Adams said they don’t see any need for any further data on the hydrology of the site.

Lynch said the company hasn’t provided final details on their plans for the site. The drill holes can be temporarily abandoned as long as GTAC maintains a bond with the state, but the wells there must be sealed if they’re not being monitored.

GTAC’s engineer didn’t immediately return a request for comment.