One Step Closer: MN Environmental Agencies Send Proposed Polymet Permit Changes to EPA For Approval

The Polymet mining project took one more step toward a final decision on whether the company will be able to begin developing some of Minnesota’s massive copper, nickel, platinum, and cobalt deposits because the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (PCA) has sent the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency an updated permit for the agency’s approval.

The suggestions come from more than 700 public comments submitted to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and PCA on the proposed Polymet project. The comments including responses, proposed permit, and Technical Support Document can be viewed at the following link.

American Experiment has written extensively on the economic benefits of developing Minnesota’s copper, nickel, platinum, cobalt, and titanium resources. We estimate that developing the Polymet project, the Twin Metals Project, and mining the Tamarack Deposit, along with developing Minnesota’s titanium resources would conservatively add $3.7 billion to the state’s economy and generate 1,900 high-paying mining jobs.

In all the mining industry would create and support nearly 8,500 new jobs throughout the state of Minnesota. In order to make sure Minnesota gets the full benefit of mining these resources, they must be mined in a way that does not harm the environment.

MN DNR has also produced modifications to the water permit associated with the Polymet project. The “fact sheet”  (I use the quotes because the document is 219 pages long!)  details what steps are being taken to minimize any environmental impacts from the mine on the environment.

The PCA has stated it believes it will issue a final decision on Polymet by the end of the calendar year. Until then, it’s wait and see.