Minnesota Supreme Court to Hear Appeal on PolyMet Air Permit
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The Minnesota Supreme Court granted review of a Minnesota Court of Appeals’ ruling regarding the NorthMet Project air permit, according to Poly Met Mining, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of PolyMet Mining Corp.
In a March 23 ruling, the Court of Appeals remanded NorthMet’s air permit to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to provide more information. PolyMet subsequently sought review of the decision, as did the MPCA in a separate petition. The Supreme Court also granted MPCA’s petition.
This is the second case in which the Supreme Court has granted review of the lower court’s ruling on Northmet Project permits. In April, the court granted the company’s and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) requests to review the Court of Appeals’ January 13 ruling, which remanded PolyMet’s Permit to Mine and two dam safety permits to the DNR for a contested case hearing. The court is expected to hear that case later this year.
“We believe the MPCA in its permit appropriately accounted for the potential effects of the NorthMet Project on the airshed, and are pleased that the Supreme Court will hear the case,” said Jon Cherry, president and CEO.
“The court of appeals’ decision creates tremendous uncertainty for companies who want to invest in Minnesota and must seek permits from the state. This is an opportunity to remedy that situation. We are looking forward to presenting our case to the Minnesota Supreme Court,” added Cherry.
PolyMet has successfully defended itself in six of the 11 state and federal cases challenging the project. The remaining five cases – three state and two federal – are in various stages of litigation or appeal, including the two cases now pending before the state Supreme Court.
About PolyMet
PolyMet Mining Corp. is a publicly traded mine development company that owns 100 percent of Poly Met Mining, Inc., a Minnesota corporation that controls 100 percent of the NorthMet copper-nickel-precious metals ore body through a long-term lease. The project features significant assets including the deposit itself and infrastructure including existing rail, roads and utilities that connect the ore body to the plant site approximately seven rail miles away. The project is located in the established mining district of the Mesabi Iron Range in northeastern Minnesota. Poly Met Mining, Inc. has completed its definitive feasibility study and received permits that provide authorization to build and operate an open pit mine and associated processing facilities. The permits, however, are the subject of ongoing litigation. NorthMet will take advantage of the region’s established supplier network and skilled workforce, is expected to require approximately two million hours of construction labor, will create approximately 360 long-term jobs directly, and generate a level of activity that will have a significant multiplier effect in the local economy.
To stop by PolyMet’s website, CLICK HERE
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