Cleveland-Cliffs owns the Minorca Mine northeast of Virginia, Minnesota. The mine’s two taconite mining pits are about one mile southeast of the plant.
The MPCA issued the mine’s current air permit in 2011. The MPCA received an application in 2015 to reissue the air permit. This permit update includes one minor amendment, seven administrative updates, two state-initiated changes, and one update about new pollution control equipment that’s already been installed.
While the mine is not currently in operation, reissuing the facility’s permit is a part of the standard regulatory process. The draft air permit reflects the facility’s current idled status.
Our role
The MPCA issues and enforces permits to limit air emissions and water discharge from Minorca’s operations. Those permits are designed to protect human health and the environment and follow current state and federal laws and regulations. The MPCA ensures that the public and all stakeholders have the opportunity to learn about, understand, and provide feedback on the permits it issues.
Project information
While mining at the site dates to 1974, Cleveland-Cliffs has owned the mine since December 2020. When in operation, the facility can produce up to about 3.5 million tons of finished taconite pellets per year, which Cleveland-Cliffs ships to steel mills throughout the Great Lakes region. Cleveland-Cliffs idled the facility in March 2025.
Dust and other air pollutants come from three main areas at the facility: the mine, the tailings basin, and the pellet plant.
- Emissions from the mine come from blasting, ore handling, and truck traffic on unpaved roads.
- Emissions from the tailings basin come from dike construction, truck traffic, and wind erosion.
- Emissions from the pellet plant come from crushing and concentrating the ore. The furnace emits dust, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and other hazardous air pollutants. Emission controls include filters, wet scrubbers, water sprays, and dust suppressants.
The MPCA has drafted an air permit for Minorca, which will require:
- demonstration of compliance with National Ambient Air Quality Standards
- compliance with the federal maximum achievable control technology standard for taconite iron ore processing
- steps to reduce haze in the region
- implementation of a mercury reduction plan
- approval for a new vent for crusher maintenance
Next steps and timeline
The draft air permit for the Minorca Mine will be available for public comment for 30 days starting March 20, 2026.
