The much-awaited draft Environmental Impact Statement for Poly Met Mining’s proposed copper-nickel mining operation near Babbitt will be released the week of October 19, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources recently announced HERE.
Release of the draft EIS will kick off a period of public comment on what could be the first mine of its kind in Northeastern Minnesota. The public comment period is set to begin on November 2 and will include two public meetings, one in Hoyt Lakes and the other in Minneapolis/St. Paul.
If approved, PolyMet’s mine could be the first of several copper-nickel and precious metals mines in the region.
Proponents of the project point out the need for domestic sources of copper and for the jobs the mine will create. Opponents point to the environmental concerns, including acid drainage into surface water, that can come from mining sulfide rock.
Minnesota Public Radio recently ran THIS story on the draft EIS .