ASHLAND, Wis. — Two northwestern Wisconsin state lawmakers are asking Gogebic (goh-GEE'-bik) Taconite to remove the armed guards it has employed to protect a proposed mining site.
Gogebic spokesman Bob Seitz tells the Duluth News Tribune (http://bit.ly/184t5O2 ) the company began using the private security guards after teams of mining opponents "violently attacked" the company's drill site last month.
Gogebic is doing test drills in Ashland and Iron counties as it works toward construction of an open-pit iron ore mine and processing plant. Several Ojibwe (oh-JIB'-wee) and environmental groups say the project will damage the environment
Sen. Bob Jauch, of Poplar, and Rep. Janet Bewley, of Ashland, say the company's decision to hire high security guards is "appalling." The two Democrats sent a letter to Gogebic's president, calling on him to remove the guards immediately.
