Canadian Mining Company Pushes Back Plans to Begin Exploratory Drilling in Northern Wisconsin
Monday, March 20th, 2023 -- 8:00 AM
(By Danielle Kaeding, Wisconsin Public Radio) A Canadian mining company has pushed back plans to begin exploratory drilling for copper and gold in northern Wisconsin as it continues to submit information to Wisconsin environmental regulators.
According to Danielle Kaeding with Wisconsin Public Radio, GreenLight Metals, doing business as GreenLight Wisconsin, wants to conduct exploratory drilling of the Bend Deposit at a 40-acre site owned by the U.S. Forest Service in Taylor County.
The deposit is believed to contain 4 million tons of mostly copper and gold. In February, GreenLight submitted a revised notice of intent to drill after first detailing its plans last fall with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
The company now states it hopes to begin drilling up to eight holes at six sites this spring or summer at the earliest or next winter. GreenLight also submitted its exploration plan for the Reef Deposit in October.
That deposit is roughly 12 miles east of Wausau in Marathon County near the Dells of the Eau Claire River. It’s believed to contain around 454,000 tons of gold reserves. The company stated it planned to drill at up to nine sites. If approved, GreenLight hoped to move forward this winter, but that hasn’t happened.
"Mining is a process that takes time. GreenLight Metals remains focused on exploring the potential resources available in the Bend and Reef Deposits and working to complete our exploratory licenses for these sites," Dan Colton, President & CEO of GreenLight Metals, said in a statement. "We continue to engage with local stakeholders and look forward to continuing to strengthen our community ties and social license here in the region."
Ben Callan, manager for the DNR’s Integration Services Section, said the agency has requested more information from the company at both the Bend and Reef deposits.
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