According to local news sources, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency rejected a request from US Steel for temporary waivers of pollution standards at its Minntac taconite facility in Mountain Iron, Minnesota.
As part of an ongoing process to obtain a new water discharge permit for the facility, US Steel had asked for a 20-year variance from water quality standards for sulfate and other pollutants in water from its tailings basin, which seeps into groundwater and nearby streams. The MPCA has instead proposed a compliance schedule within a proposed draft permit for Minntac.
The proposed permit sets 5- and 10-year targets for US Steel to reduce sulfate concentrations in its tailings basin. The mine has operated with an expired permit for over 25 years.
US Steel in a statement said it has invested more than $100 million in environmental activities at Minntac over the last 10 years.
The MPCA has scheduled a public hearing on the matter in Mountain Iron on Jan. 23.