Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Stephanie Hemphill
St. Paul, Minn.

Shutdown delays environmental review of mine project

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

Polymet Mining company will ask a Special Master to declare that state officials working on an environmental review of its proposed copper-nickel mine should be allowed to go back to work.

The Environmental Impact Statement, or EIS, for the project has been underway for more than five years.

Polymet Mining lobbyist Joe Samargia says the company is required to pay for the study, and has contracts with the Department of Natural Resources and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to do some of the work. About 10 employees from those agencies are needed to keep the project on track.

"The project is being hindered by the fact that these people are not working along with the contractors so we can complete this EIS by the fall," he said.

Samargia compares the situation to the Minnesota Zoo, which was allowed to reopen when it showed it had enough budget reserves to continue operating.

"Polymet has a contract with the DNR, the money is in place, it has no state funding, it's all private sector money," said Samargia. "We should be able to have these DNR people work on this project because it's separate from the state funding."

The proposed northeastern Minnesota mine is projected to provide nearly 400 jobs. Samargia says the company has already spent $30 million on the EIS.