US Steel Gets State Permits For Minntac Expansion

MOUNTAIN IRON, Minn. (AP) — United States Steel Corp. has now received the state permits it needs to expand its Minntac mine at Mountain Iron but is waiting on one remaining federal permit.

U.S. Steel plans to expand the taconite mine by 483 acres to allow the facility to continue producing taconite pellets for another 16 years.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued a water quality permit for the expansion last week while the Department of Natural Resources issued an updated permit to mine.

The expansion still requires a wetlands permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Spokesman Patrick Moes says the Corps hopes to make a decision on that this spring.

A joint statement from the company and the United Steelworkers union says the project represents $40 million of investment and 100 jobs.

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