DNR to hold public hearing
on Gogebic Taconite’s bulk sampling activity at potential mine site August 15
in Hurley
DRN – WI – GOV – Larry Lynch
– 8/8/2013
Contact(s): Larry Lynch, DNR project manager, 608-267-7553.
MADISON – The Department of Natural Resources will hold a public informational hearing August 15 on the proposed bulk sampling activity and the preapplication notice to mine at Gogebic Taconite’s potential mining project near Mellen, Wisconsin.
The bulk sampling activity and potential mining site are located in the town of Anderson, Iron County, and the town of Morse in Ashland County, with the majority of the site in Iron County. For bulk sampling, the company has proposed to remove a total of 4,000 tons of rock. The rock would be removed from four or five sites using standard excavating equipment and could also involve some blasting activity. The rock would be loaded on to haul trucks and transported off-site for testing and analysis.
The hearing will be held at the Hurley High School, 5503 W. Range View Drive, Hurley, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The hearing will be a public informational hearing, where individuals can provide oral or written comments as well as learn about the proposed bulk sampling activity and the preapplication description of the potential mine project.
Agency staff will provide a brief summary of the available information about the bulk sampling and DNR approvals needed by Gogebic Taconite. These informational presentations will be at 10 a.m. and again at 5 p.m. The department will also provide a summary of the steps that must be followed prior to the submission of a mining application for the project.
The department will accept both written and oral comments at the hearing on the proposed bulk sampling activities and the preapplication description. A hearing officer will be present to conduct the hearing, and may put time limits on individual oral statements to ensure an opportunity for all persons present to make statements. The hearing officer may also limit the number of representatives making oral statements on behalf of any person or group.
The public may also submit written questions at the hearing through the hearing officer, and there may be an opportunity for department staff to respond as part of the hearing.
A 30-day public comment period on the proposed bulk sampling activity and preapplication description ends September 3, 2013. Written comments may be submitted via mail to Larry Lynch, DNR, 101 S. Webster Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53707, or by e-mail to: DNRWAMINING-GOGEBICTACONITE@Wisconsin.gov.
The public can view additional information on-line at the Gogebic mining project page of the DNR website. People can sign up to receive email updates on the project through that page by clicking on the link for “subscribe to Gogebic Taconite project email updates.”
Gogebic Taconite’s project materials are also available at the Hurley Public Library, 405 5th Ave. N., Hurley, 715-561-5707; and at the Vaughn Public Library, 502 West Main St., Ashland, 715-682-7060.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Larry Lynch, 608-267-7553.
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