GTAC May Construct Smaller Pits To Reduce Impact On Wetlands In Its Proposed Mine

Mining company Gogebic Taconite is looking at several smaller pits for its proposed iron mine in order to reduce its impact on wetlands there.

GTAC spokesman Bob Seitz said they’re changing their original plan from two pits to three or four at the proposed site in Ashland and Iron counties.

“We think by doing that we can reduce the number of acres of wetlands impacted nearly in half,” said Seitz.

Seitz said they’ve surveyed more than 80 percent of the proposed site for wetlands. He said they’re weighing a number of factors, including a draft Iron County zoning ordinance and any operating costs from additional wetlands, as they continue with the mine permitting process.

“There’s nothing guaranteed about the process in terms of going forward, but that’s our hope and that’s our intent,” he said.

Seitz said they hope to identify all the wetlands at the site this spring.