The mining project that Wisconsin Republicans agreed to speed up two years ago has slowed to a crawl. Gogebic Taconite was expected to file a formal application this spring for its proposed iron ore mine near Mellen in Ashland and Iron counties. However, the Wisconsin State Journal now reports that an application probably won't be ready until 2016 -- because the firm still needs to study water quality at the site, as part of an environmental impact statement. Iron County zoning administrator Tom Bergman tells the State Journal that officials are concerned that Gogebic Taconite will pull out completely. He said the county needs the jobs the mine would provide, but it wants to make sure it does not degrade the region's quality of life.
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