The US
\nEnvironmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) internal watchdog is launching a probe
\ninto the permitting process for PolyMet Mining\u2019s planned $1 billion copper-nickel
\nmine in Minnesota, amid doubts the project really complies with Clean Water Act
\nrequirements.<\/p>\n
According to documents The agency, EPA\u2019s objections PCA spokesperson \u201cSimilar to other NorthMet is not Last month, more \u201cIrrefutable \u201cSpeculation about
\nreleased late Thursday<\/a>, EPA staff scientists voiced their concerns
\nabout key permits for the NorthMet project issued by the Minnesota Pollution
\nControl Agency (MPCA) in late 2018. <\/p>\n
\nhowever, granted the PolyMet water pollution and air permits for its project,
\nset to become the state\u2019s first copper-nickel mine, after reviewing EPA\u2019s
\ncomments and concerns, advocacy group and opponent to the mine, WaterLegacy, said
\nin a statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nwere made public following a lawsuit filed in February by Public
\nEmployees for Environmental Responsibility on behalf of WaterLegacy, which
\nsought to uncover the documents showing the agency warned the MPCA the draft
\nlicences lacked water-quality-based effluent limitations.<\/p>\n
\nDarin Broton said the final permits include clear caps on pollutants present in
\nwater discharge.<\/p>\n
\ncomplex projects, the MPCA and EPA had frequent conversations during the entire
\npermitting process to discuss technical items,\u201d Broton said in a
\nstatement. \u201cBased on those conversations, as well as other comments
\nreceived from the public during the official comment period, the MPCA made
\nsubstantive changes to the draft permit, including additional operating limits
\nfor arsenic, cobalt, lead, nickel, and mercury; and new language was added that
\nclearly states that the discharge must not violate water quality standards.
\nThat\u2019s why EPA did not object to the MPCA\u2019s final permit.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nthe only project having a hard time to move forward in Minnesota. Chilean miner
\nAntofagasta (LON:ANTO), through its subsidiary Twin Metals<\/a>, is facing concerns
\nfrom locals about the risks<\/a> its proposed underground copper-nickel mine and
\nprocessing facility along the shores of Birch Lake and the South Kawishiwi
\nRiver, which lie in the Rainy River watershed, would carry.<\/p>\n
\nthan two dozen former US Forest Service staffers sent
\na letter to the government<\/a>, outlining their worries.<\/p>\n
\nscientific studies and all of our experience tell us that in this extremely
\nvaluable, water-rich and highly interconnected place you simply cannot have
\nboth copper mining and healthy forests, water and communities,\u201d the letter,
\naddressed to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, who oversees the Forest
\nService, and Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, reads.<\/p>\n
\nthe impact of a potential mine at this time, before a proposal has even been
\nsubmitted, is just that \u2014 speculation,\u201d the company said in a statement sent to MPRNews<\/a>.<\/p>\n