Senate Panel Approves Plan To Close Off Land Around Mining Site

A state Senate panel has approved a plan to let Gogebic Taconite (GTAC) close off about 3,500 acres around a proposed northern Wisconsin mining site.

The GOP bill that passed on a party-line vote would let GTAC close off the land in Wisconsin’s Managed Forest Law program without paying a tax penalty of nearly a half-million dollars. At a meeting captured by WisconsinEye, Sen. Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) said the aim was to prevent incidents like one in early June when a group of about 15 people shouted obscenities and threats at test drill workers.

“We want people working in the state of Wisconsin,” said Grothman. “We don’t want to have them scared to death.”

Speaking to the committee via conference call, Senator Bob Jauch (D-Poplar) said the proposal was ultimately punishing law abiding citizens.

“What you’re doing is you’re shutting off access to 3,500 acres because of the behavior of a few that occurred on less than an acre,” said Jauch. “It’s not justified.”

Democrats tried unsuccessfully to amend the plan to instead create 300-foot barriers around the areas where drilling or sampling work is taking place.