"Exploratory" Mining Is A Misnomer; Northern Wisconsin, Be Warned

"Exploratory mining."

Yeah, nothing to worry about, up Ashland way..

Like "exploratory surgery."

Or when the mechanic says, "I'll just open up that transmission and have a look-see."

Former Milwaukee Mayor John Norquist, for whom I worked, said there two stages to highway projects.

There was the preliminary studying and engineering - - when the managers said "Nothing to worry about - - it's too soon to know."

Then the second-stage, with approvals in hand and bulldozers lined up, as the Walker people intend to change the rules and limit to 300 days the time during which the DNR can review a mining permit, despite its complexity.

 That stage is known as "Too late to do anything about it."

Stage two always follows stage one.

And heads-up in Oneida County, too. Outside interests have designs on your county-owned lands.