PolyMet Environmental Report Sent To Regulators

HOYT LAKES, Minn. (AP) — A long-awaited environmental report on a proposed copper-nickel mine for northeastern Minnesota has been released to state, federal and tribal agencies for review.

The initial environmental impact statement for the PolyMet mine near Hoyt Lakes was released in 2009, but the federal Environmental Protection Agency called it inadequate. PolyMet announced the completion of the updated version on Monday.

In response to criticism of the original, PolyMet has made several changes to its mine proposal. Among other things, it now plans to treat all its wastewater discharges with reverse osmosis to meet the state's sulfate standard for waters where wild rice grows.

The report will be released for public review later this summer.

The Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness says the new report should get the highest level of scrutiny.

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