The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has issued a violation notice to a mining company conducting exploratory drilling in the western U-P. The D-E-Q says the notice against the Highland Copper Company Incorporated was for soil erosion and wetlands impacts at sites on road commission property along County Road 519 in Gogebic County.
The notice requires Highland Copper Company Inc. to stabilize the site… restore disturbed wetlands… obtain additional permits… and investigate previously used drill sites to determine if other wetlands have been disturbed. There has been no impact found on the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR)-managed state park lands at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.
Highland Copper Company Inc. has been conducting exploratory drilling of copper minerals beneath the surface of the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, bisected by County Road 519. Drilling ceased on road commission property on April 4 after company officials were made aware of the erosion issues.
The DEQ and DNR are working with the company to ensure operations are in compliance and the violations are corrected.
