Lawmakers Ponder: How Close Is Too Close To A Mining Drill?

Safety zones may become law around mining exploration sites this fall, but there are competing views about how far away is safe, and how far is too far.

The iron ore mining exploration in the Penokee Range of far northern Wisconsin has so far consisted of drilling rigs. The first round of drilling is finished, but Gogebic Taconite is expected to ask for permission to drill more holes. By late fall, they could also be doing bulk sampling, a kind of mini-mining using explosives to find out what’s in the Penokee ore body.

Democratic State Senator Bob Jauch, along with senators Dale Schultz and Tim Cullen, will introduce a bill to keep people 50 feet from drilling sites and 300 feet from bulk sampling: farther if explosives are being used. Jauch says that’s reasonable. “There will be explosions in five different sites in the next few months. We think it is imperative to assure there is work place safety, [and] safety for the public at the same time. You have public access to the rest of the managed forest land for anglers and hunting and hikers.”

But Republican State Senator Tom Tiffany says after a raid by protesters in June, 50 feet isn’t enough. “Picture yourself at a workplace and 50 feet away you’ve got people yelling at you. It’s pretty hard to get a good day’s work done. So, we’re going to need to evaluate that and do what’s right to be sure and protect the workers’ safety.”

Jauch says since this is managed forest land, it can’t be kept from public use. He says he’s afraid GTAC will close thousands of acres of land in the mining area.