No appeals filed against Mesabi Nugget plant

No appeals filed against Mesabi Nugget plant

The Wednesday deadline for appeals has passed, but no appeals were filed with the federal Environmental Appeals Board to stop the construction of Mesabi Nugget’s proposed $150 million iron nugget plant in Aurora, Minnesota. Construction on the plant will begin this spring if Mesabi Nugget can meet certain requirements established by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Citizens Board. These requirements include execution of land agreements, EPA approval of a water permit variance, letter of credit, and MPCA approval of a mercury pilot test program. Air and water permits for the plant were approved in July. Despite environmental groups’ concerns about the plant’s potential impact on the ecosystem, the permit approvals were not appealed to the board. If approved, the plant will produce high-value iron ore-based nuggets for electric arc mini mills and foundries. Mesabi Nugget is also developing a filter which would remove significant amounts of mercury from the water. The company says the filter could eventually be used by other industries within the Great Lakes basin.