Minnesota to weigh mines’ requests

Minnesota to weigh mines’ requests

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Board (PCA) will hear and consider requests on November 22 from two state mining companies. Northshore Mining Co. is asking to increase its taconite pellet production by an additional 1.4 million metric tons per year. Northshore’s intention is to supply Mesabi Nugget’s first commercial iron nugget plant. Despite concerns raised over possible air and water pollution, PCA officials are confident that air pollutants are within state standards and any water discharge into Lake Superior would have no ill effects on people’s drinking water. Regardless, parent company Cleveland-Cliffs says that even with all the proper environmental permits in place, production at the plant would remain as such until market conditions permit an increase. On tap as well is Minntac Mine’s request to drain 7.2 million gallons of water per day from its taconite tailings basin. Though Minntac recycles all of its water, it claims the water it uses has become saturated with solids making it difficult to process. Environmental concerns on Minntac’s proposal range from the volume of water to be released, its temperature, to what effect it will have on lakes and streams.