The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s citizen’s board decided to delay a planned vote this week on measures to reduce haze in northeastern Minnesota.
The StarTribune has the story HERE.
Nine of 11 parties testifying at the board’s Tuesday hearing voiced opposition to the MPCA’s plan which impacts power plants and taconite facilities. Environmental groups called it too lenient while Cliffs Natural Resources, which operates three taconite plants in the region, said it would have problems complying with the proposed rules.
The MPCA’s proposal would require the taconite industry to use “good combustion practices” at the six plants where iron ore is processed into taconite. At five coal-fired power generating stations, state officials don’t require any additional plant-specific restrictions.
In Other Regional News … Minnesota will further limit its annual moose hunt due to the animals population decline.
Twin Metals is moving forward on what could be Minnesota’s largest-ever underground mine at the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Outdoor groups are concerned about the affect of the warm spring on fish and wildlife, including trout in North Shore streams.