The Canadian mineral company Polymet’s proposed copper-nickel mine on the Iron Range hit turbulence this week with a ding to its draft environmental impact statement from the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

“Inadequate” was the word used to describe Polymet’s plans to mitigate the environmental protections for the new-style nonferrous minerals mine on the former LTV site in Hoyt Lakes, one of the Range’s pioneering (and now defunct) taconite mines. At minimum this equals a delay of several months to the permitting process for the state DNR to respond.

This is a divisive issue in northern Minnesota. That’s why I’ve used a sarcastic Simpsons reference as a headline. Because that makes it better, see.