WAUSAU, WI (WSAU-WAOW) — A Canadian metal exploration drilling company is confident plans to drill for gold in parts of north central Wisconsin will move forward. The Department of Natural Resources requested more information to try and rule out potential environmental impacts and consequences of mining.
Meanwhile, concerns are growing for activists who believe this project would have long-lasting consequences. “Anybody who has property in this region should be really concerned,” said Ron James, who is speaking out against the proposed project.
“Mining companies used to have to prove beyond a shadow of doubt they wouldn’t pollute,” said Nancy Stencil, who also opposes the mining project. “Right now, we’re at the drilling phase and that’s where we want to see it stop.”
Green Light Metals submitted two applications to the Dept. of Natural Resources on Oct 7.
One of the sites for the exploratory drilling program would take place on private land off Gold Dust and Thornapple Creek roads called ‘The Reef Deposit.’ “The amount of gold that will be used in the manufacturing of these clean energy technologies, like electric vehicles, batteries, windmills… demand including all metals is going to increase over the next 20 years,” said Dan Colton, President of Green Light Metals.
“Once we respond to their requests in writing I would think we would pretty quickly come to a final decision, from the DNR,” Colton said. “I find it very unlikely the DNR will halt the application.” He says the company will respond to the DRS’s questions in the next week or two, then the DRN has 15 business days to issue a final decision. That could come by the end of 2022 or in early 2023.
