Gogebic Abandons Plan For Massive Iron Mine Near Hurley (Northern Wisconsin)

Gogebic Taconite said Friday afternoon that it was closing its office in Hurley after concluding that the expanse of wetlands at the site made the prospects of constructing a massive iron ore mine unfeasible. The company said it would continue to investigate prospects for an iron ore mine in Ashland and Iron counties, but officials said work would be sharply curtailed.

With the exception of one, all personnel were being furloughed. The chief engineer will continue to work on the project as an employee of Gogebic's parent, Cline Resource and Development. "We are not pounding the final nail in the coffin," said Bill Williams, president of the company. "But we don't want to leave false hopes with people up here."

EDIT

Williams said the forested hillside that runs along Highway 77 contained far more wetlands than the company had anticipated. That posed major problems because wetlands generally must be avoided. Crews on foot spent much of last summer mapping the location of all wetlands on the property. Williams said they found far more than the state Department of Natural Resources had listed on its maps.

Williams said Gogebic officials were satisfied with Wisconsin's regulatory oversight after legislators passed a new mining law in March 2013 that weakened environmental protections. Relations with regulators at the DNR were good under Republican Gov. Scott Walker, he said. "But there is probably still a subculture at the DNR, for lack of a better word, that is green," Williams said.

Ed. - emphasis added - Ooh! They're greeen!

EDIT

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/gogebic-dropping-plans-for-massiive-iron-mine-b99453122z1-294440851.html