Start of Taylor County drilling operation brings environmental concerns
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Oneida County shoots down mining resolution as companies express interest in sulfide mine
The Oneida County Board of Supervisors shot down a resolution Tuesday. The resolution would have allowed a county committee to consider unsolicited requests from mining companies. Two Canadian companies have expressed interest in the county’s Lynne deposit, which contains 5.6 million tons of primarily zinc, lead and silver. County residents voiced opposition to the resolution, citing concerns about environmental damage and water contamination from mining.“Not only did the township of Lynne not want this mine, the people in OneIDA County did not want it,” Lynne Town Chair Jeff Viegut said. “It appears that it took you almost two months to come to the conclusion that you needed to include others in your decision-making process, after you’ve already engaged in discussions with at least one mining company,’” Oneida Supervisor Steve Schier called his conduct unprofessional and “unprofessional.” “I look forward to entering into a discussion on how we can work together to develop the (Lynne) project in an environmentally sound manner,” Valhalla Metals Chair Rick Van Nieuwenhuyse wrote in an email.
The board voted 13-6 in opposition of the resolution. Two board members were absent. But state statutes and the county’s metallic mining ordinance already grant authority to vet such requests as two Canadian mining companies have expressed interest in the county’s Lynne deposit, which contains 5.6 million tons of primarily zinc, lead and silver.
More than two dozen county residents voiced opposition to the resolution, citing concerns about environmental damage and water contamination from mining. They highlighted a nonbinding referendum in 2018 where 62 percent of voters opposed leasing county lands for mining in the town of Lynne, which is about 30 miles west of Rhinelander.
“Not only did the township of Lynne not want this mine, the people in Oneida County did not want it,” Lynne Town Chair Jeff Viegut said.
Jill Hunger, who lives in the town of Minocqua, said there are many reasons why county officials shouldn’t entertain interest in mining the Lynne deposit.
“It’s adjacent to the Willow Flowage,” Hunger said. “The Willow Flowage is a 6,000-acre lake that is rated as an outstanding water resource.”
Hunger also questioned the effects mining could have on tourism and recreation, which brings in hundreds of millions of dollars to Oneida County each year. Lac du Flambeau tribal officials also objected to the resolution. In a letter, the tribe said it “remains opposed to any mining considerations in the Town of Lynne.”
Interest from 2 mining companies prompted resolution
Oneida County Board Chair Scott Holewinski said he brought the resolution forward after he and county board supervisor Bob Almekinder received multiple inquiries from Vancouver-based Valhalla Metals beginning in June. In a June 15 email obtained by WPR, Valhalla Metals Chair Rick Van Nieuwenhuyse said he wanted to organize a meeting to discuss leasing the Lynne “massive sulfide project” to explore and possibly develop critical metals.
“I look forward to entering into a discussion on how we can work together to develop the (Lynne) project in an environmentally sound manner and one that will not be disruptive to the surrounding communities,” Van Nieuwenhuyse wrote.
The Valhalla executive said the company would mine the ore underground with “minimal surface disturbance” and use state-of-the-art technology to upgrade the ore before transporting it to an existing processing facility. Van Nieuwenhuyse said a sister company Contango Ore, Inc. is applying that approach with projects to mine gold in Alaska.
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The Flambeau Mine near Ladysmith, shown in a photo taken in 1997. The operation is the only sulfide mine permitted by the state in the last 40 years. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (CC-BY-ND)
Mining companies have expressed interest in tapping the state’s sulfide-bearing ore bodies since Republican lawmakers lifted the state’s sulfide mining moratorium in 2017. The moratorium required companies to prove other mines operated and then were closed for 10 years without causing environmental harm. Metals like gold and copper that occur in sulfide ore bodies haven’t been mined in Wisconsin since the Flambeau mine shut down in 1997.
The Lynne deposit has also generated interest from Toronto-based GreenLight Metals. On Aug. 12, Holewinski said he and one of the county board’s vice chairs, Russ Fisher, met officials with the Wisconsin Counties Association and Steve Donohue, a director with the company’s board, in Madison.
Holewinski said they discussed the proposed resolution, the county’s metallic mining ordinance, the history of the Lynne deposit and other mineral deposits in northern Wisconsin.
“I told them I wanted to get the will of the current county board before any formal discussion about the Lynne deposit should move forward,” Holewinski said.
While Holewinski said he was trying to be transparent, Oneida County Board Supervisor Steve Schreier called his conduct unprofessional.
“It appears that it took you almost two months to come to the conclusion that you needed to include others in your decision-making process, developing or creating policy after the fact, after you’ve already engaged in discussions with at least one mining company,” Schreier said.
Holewinski and Almekinder said it was unclear how they should have responded to mining companies.
County to follow ordinance, state statutes on mining inquiries
Oneida County Zoning Director Karl Jennrich clarified the forestry committee oversees any mining activity as the local impact committee under its metallic mining ordinance. In addition, Jill Nemec, the county’s forestry director, said state statutes give the county board the authority to issue decisions about mining inquiries on county forest lands. Any agreements to lease county forest land to mining companies would also require approval from the state Department of Natural Resources.
Almekinder, who chairs Oneida County’s forestry committee, told WPR he’ll be reaching out to mining companies within the next week.
“I will explain to them the current situation with people not wanting mining going on, and let them decide if they want to pursue it,” Almekinder said. “Once I get some information from them, I will bring it back to the committee, and it will get discussed.”
GreenLight Metals, doing business as Green Lights Wisconsin, is already leasing mineral rights at the Bend deposit in Taylor County and Reef deposit in Marathon County. The company has proposed exploratory drilling at both sites, but a DNR spokesperson said there have been no further contacts from the company regarding the two deposits as of Tuesday afternoon.
In a statement, the Natural Resource Development Association said it supports sourcing minerals from Wisconsin amid growing demand for clean energy. That’s increasing the need for minerals like lithium, nickel and copper.
“GreenLight Metals and other entities are likely to continue to explore the feasibility of other potential deposits,” the group said.
The Wisconsin Counties Association, GreenLight Metals and Valhalla Metals didn’t respond to requests for comment about the Lynne deposit Tuesday.
Mining company pushes back plans to drill for copper and gold
GreenLight Metals wants to conduct exploratory drilling of the Bend Deposit in Taylor County. The deposit is believed to contain 4 million tons of mostly copper and gold. The company hopes to begin drilling up to eight holes at six sites this spring or summer at the earliest or next winter. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is seeking more details on things like erosion control, drilling fluids and the amount of sulfide minerals expected in small bits of rock removed from drill holes. The Flambeau mine shut down in 1997 as a catalyst for the state’s sulfide mining moratorium that was repealed in 2017. The state requires companies to prove mines can’t be more or less strict than state standards for ore in sulfide bodies that haven’t been mined in Wisconsin since the law was passed by the GOP-controlled state Legislature in 1997. The DNR has not received a response to a six-page letter sent in October requesting more information on the Reef Deposit. The agency requested more information in a March 7 letter about its plans to withdraw water from the North Branch of the Yellow River.
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.
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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.
Additional bond and permit required to drill in Taylor County
In Taylor County, Callan said the company will need to obtain a wastewater permit for drilling. The agency requested more information in a March 7 letter about its plans to withdraw water from the North Branch of the Yellow River, which is designated as a special waterway in Wisconsin. Depending on its plans, the company may need to obtain a waterway permit. In addition, the DNR said wetlands and stormwater permits won’t be required based on information provided.
“They are under the threshold for disturbance for stormwater, but there’s some clarification that needs to be incorporated into their plan regarding erosion control and best management practices,” Callan said.
The company also needs to submit an additional $45,000 bond or increase its existing bond to $50,000 to cover the cost of abandoning the drill holes. If its plans move forward, the company expects work may be conducted in phases and last about 10 weeks.
GreenLight has identified drilling fluids it plans to use for exploration, and some residents have expressed concerns about the presence of PFAS in those products. The DNR said its examination of ingredients used in an approved list of drilling fluids showed no evidence of the chemicals. The agency added it’s not testing those fluids for PFAS because it’s prioritizing the use of limited funds for sampling of private wells in areas with high levels of the chemicals.
More details needed on drill plans in Marathon County
Regarding the Reef Deposit, Callan said the agency has not received a response to a six-page letter sent in October requesting more information. The agency is seeking more details on things like erosion control, drilling fluids and the amount of sulfide minerals expected in small bits of rock removed from drill holes.
While the DNR must review information within certain timeframes, Callan noted applicants are under no such time constraints.
“We’re working with information as we get it,” Callan said.
Shad Harvey, land resources manager for Marathon County, said the company submitted an incomplete application to obtain an exploration permit from the county last year.
“We don’t have a completed application yet, and we’re still working with the DNR to get all the required information,” Harvey said.
Harvey said officials expect they would receive a complete application once GreenLight has satisfied the state’s request, noting the county’s requirements can’t be more or less strict than state standards.
Metals like gold and copper that occur in sulfide ore bodies haven’t been mined in Wisconsin since the Flambeau mine shut down in 1997. The mine served as a catalyst for the state’s sulfide mining moratorium that was repealed in 2017 under a law passed by the Republican-controlled state Legislature.
The moratorium required companies to prove other mines operated and then were closed for 10 years without causing environmental harm. Industry officials hope the 2017 law will open the door to mining and bring high-paying jobs.
Marathon County residents and tribes, including the Menominee Indian Tribe and Ho-Chunk Nation, have expressed concerns that the company’s plans would contaminate water resources surrounding the Reef Deposit. Robert VanZile, Jr., leader of the Sokaogon Chippewa Community, warned more companies will push for mining to meet global demand for minerals during the State of the Tribes address this week. He said that poses a greater threat of polluting the state’s natural resources.