The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has rejected a request by environmental groups to reconsider the mine and dam safety permits for the NorthMet copper/nickel project.
Commenting on the department’s decision, developer PolyMet Mining president and CEO Jon Cherry said in a statement that the permits were issued after a comprehensive and lengthy environmental review and permitting process that involved “considerable” public involvement and, in the case of the dam safety permit, independent review by outside experts.