DNR director approves eastern U.P. limestone mine transaction

ISHPEMING — The head of the Michigan DNR has approved a huge land transaction in the eastern U.P. that will allow a limestone mine to be built there.

A Canadian company, Graymont, Inc., wants to build the mine in northern Mackinac County, near Rexton.

In order to build it, Graymont asked the DNR to sell nearly 1,800 acres of land. Company officials also wanted to buy more than 7,000 acres of mineral rights on other land. Graymont asked to acquire about 830 acres of state land in a land exchange as well.

The deal is worth about $4.5 million, plus future royalties. Graymont will pay the state a 30-cent royalty for every ton of limestone it extracts from the mine.

In January, some of the DNR’s top officials asked DNR director Keith Creagh to reject Graymont’s proposal. Graymont recently revised the proposal and Creagh approved the amended deal.