There is exploratory drilling
drilling underway in
northern Wisconsin
and a company called
GreenLight Metals
is hoping to prove
that a deposit of copper
in the bedrock is worth
mining in Taylor County.
Meanwhile
environmental groups are saying
the mining industry
still hasn't proved
they can safely mine
metallic sulfide deposits
without polluting
the groundwater.
I'm Here & Now
senior political reporter
Zac Schultz.
Both sides agree
we're years away
from a company applying
for a mining permit.
But GreenLight
says the demand for copper
and a rare earth element
called tellurium
means the Bend Deposit
has both financial value
and national security value
as the U.S.
tries to move away
from reliance on
foreign adversaries
for these metals.
But this potential mine
sits under national forest land
and just 100 yards
from the Yellow River
and groups like the Wisconsin
chapter of the Sierra Club
say the amount of minerals
buried 1,500 feet
under the ground
aren't worth the
potential damage
a mine and crushing facility
and tailings pond
could bring
to northern Wisconsin.
The company says
their last round
of exploratory drilling
drilling secured them
another $11 million in investors
and the exploratory
drilling will continue.
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and other issues
go to pbswisconsin.org
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