MARQUETTE -- Plans for the controversial nickel and copper mine on the Yellow Dog Plains of northern Marquette County have been put on hold.

The announcement about the mine came in a press release from Kennecott's parent company, Rio Tinto.  It also comes after several years of battling with environmentalists and other groups over the mine.
    
Kennecott officials say as far as they're concerned, they're still moving ahead with plans for the mine, but are unsure when exactly construction can begin.

"It depends on when the litigation gets resolved, how the permitting process goes and ultimately what the market conditions and economic conditions are at the time we reach those decisions," said John Cherry, General Manager of the Eagle Project.

Cherry says the 25 employees working on the project are staying.

Click here to read the full press release.

Eagle Project deferred