This week the Department of Natural Resources sent a detailed letter and additional materials to Gogebic Taconite, LLC, concerning the company's proposed iron mining project in Iron and Ashland counties.
The letter outlines the approvals that may be required for a potential mining project, the requirements for submission of an Environmental Impact Report, information the department will require to process a mining permit application and available environmental data related to the area.
The agency letter and documents are in response to Gogebic Taconite's preapplication notice submitted to the department in June 2013 and preapplication meetings that the department had with the company in December 2013 and January 2014. Under the new iron mining law passed last year, the department must provide a response within 60 days of the preapplication meetings.
The letter and additional materials are available on the DNR's Gogebic Taconite project Web page, under the "Preapplication" tab.
03.10.14 Subject: Pre-Application Notification Information Pursuant to s. 295.465(2), Wis. Stats.
Attachment A Environmental Impact Report Outline
Attachment B - Existing Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) Information and Other Sources of Information [PDF]
Attachment C WDNR Protocols and Sampling Methodologies
Attachment D Additional Water Monitoring Information