MPCA Quarterly update

MPCA Quarterly Update

The following is a summary of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s (MPCA) activities during the second quarter 2018 regarding applications submitted by Poly Met Mining, Inc. (PolyMet) for its proposed NorthMet mine and processing plant.

The MPCA and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) send out quarterly messages summarizing activities and documents added to the project website in the previous quarter. For the most up to date information, check the state’s PolyMet web portal (www.mn.gov/polymet) and MPCA’s project website (www.pca.state.mn.us/northmet). It is also the MPCA’s future goal to use this email subscription list to notify the public in advance of any permit comment period or other opportunity for public participation.

Air quality permit

The MPCA completed review of the plans, modeling reports, and other elements of the permit application and developed a draft air quality permit and technical support document (TSD) and attachments for the proposed project. The draft permit was placed on public notice January 31, 2018 with a 45 day comment period that ended on March 16, 2018.  In addition, combined public meetings (held jointly with MDNR) covering all three of the draft MPCA permits and certifications were held in Aurora and Duluth in early February 2018.  During the public comment period a total of 686 comments were received on MPCA’s draft permits with 57 of the 239 comments received online being on the air permit.  No petitions for a contested case hearing were received.  MPCA is currently in the process of reviewing and responding to these comments.

Individual wastewater NPDES/SDS water quality permit

MPCA completed review of PolyMet’s NPDES/SDS water quality permit application and developed a draft permit and supporting draft Fact Sheet for the proposed project.  The draft permit was placed on public notice January 31, 2018 with a 45 day comment period that ended on March 16, 2018.  As mentioned above, combined public meetings covered this and the other draft MPCA permits and certifications.  During the public comment period a total of 686 comments were received on MPCA’s draft permits with 130 of the 239 comments received online being on the water quality permit.  Three petitions for a contested case hearing on the draft permit were also received.  MPCA is currently in the process of reviewing the petitions and responding to the public comments.  MPCA continues to coordinate with the DNR during the response process.  Permit related documents are available on the water quality page of the project website. 

Construction stormwater general NPDES/SDS water quality permit

MPCA received an application for the mine site geotechnical investigations and phase II of the well installations work on November 7, 2017.  The purpose of the geotechnical work is to investigate and characterize geological conditions at the site for the purpose of completing final engineering design.  This includes such activities as borings and test pits to determine soil characteristics, depth to bedrock, and installation of monitoring wells.  Coverage under this application only authorizes activities related to the geotechnical work; it does not authorize construction or operation of the processing facility, mine pits, or other construction activities. Coverage under this Construction Stormwater General Permit application (C00048233) became effective on December 7, 2017.  For the second quarter of 2018, coverage under this construction stormwater general permit is still in effect; however, no significant geotechnical work or well installations have been conducted.

401 water quality certification

The MPCA completed review of the 401 certification request and related application materials and developed a draft 401 water quality certification for the proposed project.  The draft certification was placed on public notice January 31, 2018 with a 45 day comment period that ended on March 16, 2018.  As mentioned above, combined public meetings covered this and the other draft MPCA permits and certifications.  During the public comment period a total of 686 comments were received on MPCA’s draft permits with 52 of the 239 comments received online being on the 401 certification.  Three petitions for a contested case hearing on the draft permit were also received.  MPCA is currently in the process of reviewing the petitions and responding to the public comments.  MPCA will continue to coordinate with DNR and US Army Corps of Engineers during the response process.  The 401 certification request and related application materials are available on the project website.

You are receiving this message as a subscriber to the PolyMet email notification list.  This list is hosted by the DNR. It is used jointly by the MPCA and DNR to provide regular updates and share information about key steps in the permitting/certification processes, including opportunities for public comment.