Republicans Consider Banning Protestors From GTAC Drill Site

An emergency rule may be used to keep protesters away from exploratory drill sites in the Penokee Range.

About 15 masked people raided the Iron County drill site June 11 for about 15 minutes, allegedly causing $2,000 in damage. Now legislators are considering banning protesters from the drill site.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Burlington, says he’s not sure what changes are needed or how they would make those changes.

“The hope is that we will be able to work with the [Department of Natural Resources]. Discussions are going on right now – it’s my understanding – to see if there is a way to promulgate an emergency rule. So it would have the same force of law as passing a change in statute, but we would not have to do it inside the budget.”

Right now, it appears there are no restrictions to a drill site except perhaps OSHA “hard hat” area rules that keep people out of work areas. Governor Scott Walker says enforcing existing laws might do the trick.

“We’ve obviously monitored that but thus far we’ve worked with local law enforcement official on it. Certainly protecting public safety and public property is vitally important but it’s something we’re going to continue to work with local authorities on.”

One person involved with the June 11 incident investigation who wishes to remain anonymous says this could be a sticky situation: The drill site is in a so-called “managed forest crop” area, which gives a tax break to the landowner as long as it’s open to the public.

Meanwhile, Gogebic Taconite finished its first bore hole and is moving about half a mile to the west to begin drilling its second of eight holes.