HOUGHTON — Officials with Highland Copper Company, Inc., of Longueuil, Canada, said recently Tuesday that it is conducting exploratory drilling in the Porcupine Wilderness State Park Tuesday to define what resources it has in the eastern section of the Copperwood copper-silver deposit, which is partially located in the Porkies.

Highland will “obtain metallurgical samples and carry out further geotechnical studies to refine a mining plan.”

Highland plans to drill up to 35 confirmatory holes totaling about 6,800 meters of core. Twelve of the 35 planned drill holes are located in Gogebic County, at the westernmost edge of the Porcupine Mountain Wilderness Park west of County Road 519.

The company expects to complete the 12 holes by the end of March, and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) has issued a use permit for the drilling.

Highland said it has worked closely and cooperatively with the MDNR to modify the drilling plan as requested.

“To insure minimum impact to the land surface during the drilling program and to provide protections to natural resources to the greatest extent possible, several operating provisions have been put in action, including operating only on frozen ground, using tracked drill rigs on existing roads for access to drill hole locations and avoid cutting trees when feasible,” according to the press release. “The company has in place a full remedial plan, which will be executed when drilling is complete. The vast majority of the park, including the Presque Isle River watershed, will remain unaffected by this exploration program.

“The company’s employees and drill contractors are working with the MDNR Parks and Recreation Division to monitor activities and insure compliance with the permit.”

Highland described the procedure to prepare, ship, analyze and check all samples and data from the properties, including data verification procedures.

“Quality control for drill programs at the company’s projects covers the complete chain of custody of samples, including verification of drill hole locations, core handling procedures and analytical-related work, including duplicate sampling, check analyses at other laboratories and the insertion of standard and blank materials,” according to the press release.

Highland also said recent Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition allegations, like potential problems regarding sulfide ore are unfounded.

Highland Copper Company Inc. is a Canadian exploration company focused on exploring and developing copper projects in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan with 189,198,483 common shares issued and outstanding.