Minn. Copper Mine Review Delayed By Shutdown

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A long-awaited updated environmental review of the proposed PolyMet copper-nickel mine in northern Minnesota has been delayed by last month's federal government shutdown.

The review was to be released Nov. 22. But the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said Wednesday the release has been pushed back two weeks, to Dec. 6.

The DNR says the federal shutdown came during a critical final review of the statement. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Forest Service were unable to complete their final review under the previous schedule.

The DNR and the two federal agencies have been preparing the revised PolyMet review for 3½ years.

PolyMet is proposing a $600 million open-pit mine near Babbitt and a processing center at the old LTV taconite mine north of Hoyt Lakes.

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