A large publicly-traded company that makes wood siding is considering building a new plant in Northern Minnesota. According to reports from Minnesota Public Radio and the Associated Press, the plant would employ about 250 people. The company is considering sites near Hoyt Lakes, Cook and Grand Rapids, as well as sites in other states. From Brian Bakst… Read More →
State approves PolyMet environmental review
March 3, 2016 by 2 Comments
Never has the word “adequate” been such a hot topic. Today, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced that the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed PolyMet mine near Hoyt Lakes was adequate. “The environmental review process is about describing the potential environmental effects of the proposed NorthMet project,” said DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr… Read More →
Key PolyMet environmental report expected Thursday
March 2, 2016 by 6 Comments
On Thursday, March 3, state regulators will issue its ruling on the Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed PolyMet copper-nickel mine near Hoyt Lakes. This will be the culmination of at least seven years of debate over the EIS. The controversy centers on whether the development company is accurately reflecting the environmental risk of this form of… Read More →
Biochemical firm craps out on Range project
February 29, 2016 by 1 Comment
When Segetis, a Golden Valley, Minnesota, biochemical firm first proposed a $105 million project near Hoyt Lakes, it stoked some badly needed hope for the Iron Range. The Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board approved a $21.5 million loan package with little opposition. Science! Smart people in lab coats would help save the local economy…. Read More →
Glencore loans $11 million to PolyMet
January 28, 2016 by Leave a Comment
The global mining giant Glencore has loaned $11 million to Canadian development company PolyMet, owner and developer of a proposed copper-nickel-paladium mine in Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota. This according to a John Myers story in today’s Duluth News Tribune: With no source of income until its mine permits are approved and production can begin, the company… Read More →
Is this the 1980s again on the Iron Range?
November 23, 2015 by 20 Comments
I grew up in the 1980s on a junkyard just a few miles south of Eveleth Taconite. Growing up on a junkyard is probably the best way to understand the things humans build, sell, use and discard. So let’s consider a new car. I’ve only ever bought one brand new car fresh off the lot. It… Read More →
PolyMet EIS done, but project still faces hurdles
November 12, 2015 by 3 Comments
Last week the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources released the final Environmental Impact Statement for PolyMet, an important step in the company’s goal to open a new copper-nickel mine near Hoyt Lakes on the eastern Mesabi Iron Range. A milestone, yes, but certainly not the end of the story. Marshall Helmberger’s Timberjay offers a pretty good explanation… Read More →
PolyMet EIS to be released today
November 6, 2015 by 1 Comment
Today at 12:30 p.m., the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will release its final 3,000-page Environmental Impact Statement for the controversial PolyMet copper nickel mine in Hoyt Lakes on the eastern Mesabi Iron Range. I expect the document will be posted here, at the project site on the DNR website. Dropping a document of this… Read More →
IRRRB to discuss $26 million biochemical project in Mt. Iron
October 29, 2015 by 14 Comments
Friday, the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board will meet to discuss new projects and public works spending. A number of interesting items will be on the docket. Topping the list is a proposal to loan $18 million as part of a state and Iron Range package of $26 million to a company called Sweetwater Energy. Sweetwater is… Read More →
Governor Dayton tours mines to inform his PolyMet decision
October 28, 2015 by Leave a Comment
I’ve already expounded upon challenges facing the iron mining industry on the Mesabi today, but state political news is focusing on the much louder though more theoretical debate over nonferrous mining in Northeastern Minnesota. Well, that debate is finally starting to get real. Gov. Mark Dayton visited the Gilt Edge Mine in South Dakota yesterday and… Read More →
