Environmental review requested in Minntac expansion
Environmental advocates Thursday asked a court to order a full environmental review of plans to expand Minnesota's largest taconite mine.
U.S. Steel wants to expand Minntac in Mountain Iron, Minn., by nearly 500 acres to extend the mine's life another 16 years. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources concluded the expansion would not cause significant environmental problems.
The Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, however, sued, asking for a more thorough "environmental impact statement" and arguing that Minntac is violating water quality standards downstream of the mine.
The operation routinely violates its water quality permit, Kathryn Hoffman, the environmental group's attorney, told the Minnesota Court of Appeals Thursday.
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"We think it's time to stand back and look at the pollution at this mine, and see if we can't identify some solutions to that before an expansion goes forward," Hoffman said.
Minntac is in compliance with its Clean Water Act permits and has taken steps to lessen water pollution, the DNR says.
The agency also says Minntac has entered into an agreement with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to address water quality issues downstream of the mine's tailings basin. A seepage collection system has been installed, for example, which has reduced pollutant levels.
Attorneys for the DNR and US Steel declined to be interviewed. They argue the environment is protected by Minntac's current Clean Water Act permit, and say additional fixes can be written into U.S. Steel's permit to mine.
Hoffman told the three judge panel that the DNR failed to weigh the environmental effects of a mine expansion against the impacts of the project not moving forward, what she called the "baseline" test.
Judges told Hoffman her argument was "compelling," but questioned whether it was supported by law.
Minntac was built in 1967. It's the state's largest taconite operation, employing about 1,400 workers. U.S. Steel says the proposed expansion would extend the mine's life to 2031.