A state legislator wants to lift the Wisconsin ban on slant drilling under the Great Lakes. Mike Simonson reports from Superior.

Six years ago, the debate about putting a drilling rig on the shore of Lake Michigan and directing it to spots under the lake's bottom was put to an end when Michigan joined other Great Lakes states and banned so-called slant drilling. Now, the high price of fuel is driving that debate once again. State Representative Frank Lasee of Green Bay plans to propose a bill to once again allow drilling under the Great Lakes from Wisconsin's shores.

"Because we know there's oil under Lake Michigan. The state of Michigan has people who have directional drilled under the lake. I believe there's also oil under Lake Superior as well and it's possible we could find oil on dry land in Wisconsin."

An Army Corp of Engineers report does say there is potential for gas and oil under Lakes Michigan, Erie, and Huron. Retired UW-Superior Petroleum Geologist Bert Dickas says Lake Superior's ancient hard rock formation makes it a bad prospect for drilling. But he says Lake Michigan is another matter. Michigan built 13 slant drilling operations since 1979.

"That trend does extend from the lower peninsula of Michigan underneath Lake Michigan. So, there is a potential there of directional drilling from the southeastern portion of the state (Wisconsin) underneath the lake."

Critics say directional drilling from shore has potential for leaks which would spill into the Great Lakes, contaminating drinking water and destroying fishing.

Lasee plans to introduce his bill to lift the ban on slant drilling in January.

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