MADISON, WI (WTAQ) – Gogebic Taconite has made it official.
The company withdrew its pre-application notice to the state for a permit to build its now-scrapped iron ore mine in Ashland and Iron counties.
The state DNR said Friday that the land around the former mining project will be re-opened to the public.
About 3,500 acres throughout the site had been open under the state’s managed forest program. But that was before a vandalism incident spurred a state lawmaker to close all public access to the entire mining site.
Deer hunters objected, and a compromise bill was signed to prohibit public access only around mining equipment and special mining roads throughout the site.
Gogebic Taconite said a few weeks ago that excess wetlands did not make the project feasible, and it was closing its office in Hurley.
(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)
