Weather Prevents GTAC From Closing Out Mine Site

Mining company Gogebic Taconite (GTAC) is still working to close out the site where it had hoped to build a $1.5 billion iron mine in northern Wisconsin.

GTAC filled three exploration drill holes a year ago, but the weather prevented the company from sealing all the holes and wells on their former mine site. Wisconsin DNR Statewide Metallic Mining Coordinator Larry Lynch said warmer temperatures are once again preventing the company from closing out the site.

“They still have a handful of exploration holes and one deep bore hole and I think three shallow monitoring wells to do,” he said.

Lynch said the company will likely have to wait until next winter to close out the site.

“I suppose it’s possible that if we have a really dry summer and they’re able to get into these sites that they could,” Lynch said. “But, again, the best time to access them is in the winter.”

The Wisconsin DNR is still holding a roughly $120,000 bond that won’t be released to the company until abandonment of the site is complete.

The company has also sealed six bore holes that DNR and company officials discovered at the mine site from legacy drilling. Lynch said it’s the responsibility of the landowners to properly abandon any other drill holes that may exist from exploration that was previously conducted.

GTAC closed its Hurley office two years ago. Bill Williams, president of the mining company at the time, had said federal regulatory hurdles and the cost of disturbing wetlands were a barrier to building the mine. But, landowners continue to seek other developers for the site.