This collection follows on recent reporting by MPR on a possible PolyMet mine near Hoyt Lakes Minnesota as well as years of Iron Range mining coverage.
October 23, 2009 - The Minnesota DNR today (FRI) is expected to release its environmental study of a copper-nickel mine proposed for Northeastern Minnesota. The valuable minerals occur in a sulfide deposit, and sulfide mining elsewhere in the world has damaged water systems as the waste rock produces sulfuric acid. Betsy Daub (DAWB) is with the group Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness. She says it's unlikely the proposed Polymet mine would be any different.
October 23, 2009 - Plans are moving ahead for a copper-nickel mine in Northeastern Minnesota. The draft of an environmental review of the project is expected today (FRI). So-called sulfide mining has never been done in Minnesota, but in other parts of the world, similar mines are polluting rivers and lakes. Stephanie Hemphill reports on the mine and its possible impacts.
February 22, 2010 - The federal Environmental Protection Agency says the proposed Polymet copper-nickel mine proposed for northeastern Minnesota should not go ahead as currently planned. The EPA listed more than two-dozen so-called inadequacies in the Minnesota DNR's draft environmental impact statement, or E-I-S. The DNR's Steve Colvin says the criticisms come in part because of a difference in approach by the two levels of government.
February 22, 2010 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says the Minnesota DNR's environmental review of the Polymet mine proposed for northeastern Minnesota is inadequate. Stephanie Hemphill reports. {
February 23, 2010 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says the Minnesota DNR's environmental review of the Polymet mine proposed for northeastern Minnesota is inadequate. Stephanie Hemphill reports.
March 9, 2010 - About seventy people came to the Capitol Monday to hear testimony on a proposed copper-nickel mine for Northeastern Minnesota. Polymet C-E-O Joe Scipioni said his company has already invested 100-million-dollars to plan for environmental protection. Critics said the state's environmental review is flawed. The federal Environmental Protection Agency says the study lacks critical information, and the project should not go forward as currently planned.
March 10, 2010 - Later today the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee will discuss a bill that would tighten the rules on copper-nickel mines. The question has taken on some urgency, as a half-dozen companies are now making plans to open such mines in northeastern Minnesota. Stephanie Hemphill reports.
August 28, 2010 - Minnesota 8th District Congressman James Oberstar was in Hoyt Lakes today to push for faster completion of the environmental review for a proposed copper-nickel mine. Stephanie Hemphill reports.