|
JULY/AUGUST 2013
PROJECT UPDATE
Supplemental draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) coming soon – Public comment period to follow
Exciting things are happening here at PolyMet Mining. The independent consultant to the NorthMet project’s co-lead agencies (Minnesota DNR, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Forest Service) has nearly completed the new supplemental draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS), which integrates key project improvements to minimize environmental impacts and reflects public and government agencies’ comments on the original draft EIS.
The U.S. Enviromental Protection Agency and Bois Forte, Fond du Lac, and Grand Portage tribal governments (the "Cooperating Agencies) have reviewed the draft SDEIS and provided comments which are being incorporated into the SDEIS public review.
The public review/comment period will likely last 90 days, during which there will be three public meetings: in the Twin Cities, Duluth and Hoyt Lakes/Aurora. Exact times and locations will be announced once the SDEIS has been released to the public.
The goal of these meetings is to gather any additional feedback so the agencies can prepare a final EIS, which is the basis for their Record of Decision and Adequacy Decision, which forms the legal basis for the issuance of permits.
The supplemental draft EIS will be available online at the Minnesota DNR website and the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board website.
Sincerely,
Jon Cherry, President/CEO
|