Mineral exploration company asks DNR for permission to drill in Chequamegon National Forest

MADISON - A mining company is hoping to soon explore a mineral deposit within one of Wisconsin's national forests. 

GreenLight Metals is planning to explore a mineral deposit in the Chequamegon National Forest starting in November, if the exploration plan is approved. 

The company submitted a letter of intent to drill to the Department of Natural Resources in late September, detailing the plan for drilling at six sites on a 40-acre parcel of land within the forest in Taylor County, near the Yellow River, according to submitted documents. GreenLight is leasing mineral rights from Soo line Railroad, also known as Canadian Pacific Railway. 

More: DNR board passes new mining regulations, raises permitting fees for metallic mining 

While the DNR is going through the intent document, Taylor County will also be notified of the company's intent to drill, a step required by an ordinance passed by the county after a mining moratorium was lifted in 2017. 

The county is not required to vote on or approve the exploration plan, said Dan Colton, CEO of GreenLight. 

The drilling is expected to take about 12 weeks to complete, documents said. Restoration of the drill sites will begin in the spring and is anticipated to cost nearly $46,000. 

The drilling will only take place after the ground has frozen, Colton said, so November or later. No roads will have to be created to get to drill sites with the equipment. 

Once the core samples are pulled from the ground, they'll be analyzed and the company will decide where more drilling needs to be done in order to gain a better understanding of the mineral deposit in the area.

In the meantime, the company will also be monitoring the surrounding land and water for impacts, though drilling is typically a low-impact activity conducted by licensed professionals. 

"It's a very low-impact program, no different than installing groundwater monitoring wells," Colton said. "And in addition, the U.S. Forest Service is providing detailed oversight in terms of reviewing the plans and they won't approve a plan that they think minimizes impacts or is being implemented in inappropriate ways." 

Exploration of what is known as the Bend Deposit will likely go on for years before opening a mine in the area would be discussed. 

More: Mining company seeks permission to start exploratory drilling near scenic site in Marathon County 

The Bend Deposit is located within the Chequamegon National Forest, about 19 miles north of Medford. It was discovered in 1986 and first drilled in the 1990s. It is suspected to contain copper, gold and silver, totaling an estimated 4.23 million tons. 

GreenLight also holds the mining rights to the Reef Deposit in Marathon County, just outside of Wausau. Drilling is also being pursued at that deposit, which likely contains copper, gold, silver and zinc. 

Paperwork was submitted to Marathon County to commence drilling earlier this year but was sent back to the company for more information. The county will have to approve the application for the company to start work at the site. 

While there has been interest in exploratory drilling over the last several years, mines aren't common in Wisconsin. The last mine permitted was the Flambeau mine in 1992 in Ladysmith.

Laura Schulte can be reached at leschulte@jrn.com and on Twitter at @SchulteLaura.