Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Contact: Anne Perry Moore, 218-723-2356 Toll-free: 1-800-657-3864 Duluth, Minn. - The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is seeking public comments on two draft environmental permits for the proposed Minnesota Steel Industries' taconite mining and steel production facility in Nashwauk, Minn. Comments on the proposed project's draft air emissions and water discharge permits may be offered at the MPCA's public meeting on July 11, 2007 in the Nashwauk High School gymnasium at 400 2nd Street. MPCA staff will be available during open house discussion sessions from 6:00 - 6:30 and 8:15 - 9:00 p.m. Agency engineers will present more detailed information about the proposed project's permit requirements from 6:45 - 8:15 p.m. The MPCA encourages the public to review the draft permit documents and submit written comments before the 30-day public comment period ends at 4:30 p.m. on July 30, 2007. Oral comments made at the meeting will be transcribed by a court reporter. Minnesota Steel Industries LLC submitted applications for air emission and water discharge permits to the MPCA for review on Feb. 10, 2006. Project staff reviewed the applications and placed the draft permits on public notice June 29, 2007. MPCA staff will review and consider the comments before determining whether the permits may be issued. Since 2005, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have conducted the environmental review process for the proposed project. The process included completion of an Environmental Assessment Worksheet and an Environmental Impact Statement. The final state and federal EIS is currently on public notice. No permits can be issued until after a final decision is made on the EIS's adequacy. More information about the EIS can be found on the DNR Web site at www.dnr.state.mn.us/input/ environmentalreview/minnsteel/index.html. To request more information about the draft air permit, contact Dick Cordes at 651-296-8157. For more information about the draft water discharge permit, contact Katrina Kessler at 651-296-7376. All MPCA staff can be reached toll-free at 1-800-657-3864. People may send their written comments to the designated staff person's attention at MPCA, 520 Lafayette Road North, St. Paul, Minn. 55155-4194. Faxed comments may be sent to either staff at 651-296-8717. Copies of the draft permit documents are available for review at:
· MPCA St. Paul office, 520 Lafayette Road North
· MPCA Duluth office, 525 Lake Avenue South, Suite 400
· MPCA Web site at www.pca.state.mn.us/news/data/index.cfm?PN=1
· Duluth Public Library, 520 West Superior St.
· Keewatin Public Library, 125 W 3rd Ave.
· Hibbing Public Library, 2020 East 5th Ave.
The permitting process is an integral part of environmental regulations and regulatory compliance. The MPCA works with Minnesota businesses, the Minnesota Legislature and federal officials to ensure that the permitting process helps to protect the state's environment. For more information about the agency's permitting process, visit www.pca.state.mn.us/permits/index.html. For general information about the Minnesota Steel project, contact Anne Moore, MPCA Public Information Officer, at 218-723-2356 or anne.moore@state.mn.us.