March 7, 2018

DNR - Deadline to Submit Written Responses to Petitions for Contested Case Hearings on the draft PolyMet Permit to Mine is April 6, 2018

Announcement: The deadline to submit written responses to either or both of two pending petitions for a contested case hearing on the draft PolyMet permit to mine is Friday, April 6, 2018. 

Additional Information: The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) received two petitions under Minnesota Statutes 93.483 requesting that the Commissioner hold a contested case hearing on the draft permit to mine for the proposed Poly Met Mining, Inc. (PolyMet) NorthMet mining project.  In accordance with Minnesota Statutes 93.483, any person may serve a response to these petitions.  The DNR will now accept any responses to these petitions through Friday, April 6, 2018. 

Complete copies of the petitions are posted on the DNR’s permit-to-mine webpage for the NorthMet project: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/polymet/permitting/ptm.html

Submitting Responses to Petitions

Any responses to the petitions for a contested case hearing on the draft permit to mine must be submitted in writing to the address below.  Voluminous exhibits to responses may be submitted in electronic form (on CD/DVD or jumpdrive), but one non-electronic copy of the written response must be submitted to the address below.  Hand-delivered responses must be received by close of business (4:30 P.M.) on Friday, April 6, 2018.  Responses sent by US Mail must be postmarked on or before April 6, 2018. 

MN Department of Natural Resources
Division of Lands and Minerals
500 Lafayette Road N, Box 45
St. Paul, MN 55155-4045

Any responses will become part of the official record and, as such, may be available for public examination. 

Response Process is Distinct from Earlier Comment and Objection Process

This notice relates solely to the petition and response process under Minnesota Statutes 93.483 and is distinct from the public comment and objection process on the draft permit to mine, which closed on March 6, 2018. The DNR and its consultants are currently reviewing all public comments and objections received as part of that earlier process.  Those who previously submitted comments and objections should not resubmit them during this petition response period. 

DNR will fully consider all timely comments, objections, petitions and any responses to petitions prior to making a determination on whether to order a pre-decisional contested case hearing and the scope of any such hearing.  If no contested case hearing is held, DNR will proceed to making its final decision on the permit to mine.  If a pre-decisional contested case hearing is held, DNR will defer its final permit to mine decision until after the conclusion of that contested case process.