January 21st, 2010 | 
AnonymousOctober News: PolyMet draft EIS is NOT ready for prime time.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) announced that the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for the proposed PolyMet Mining, Inc. copper strip mine would be released in November.
What neither the PolyMet Company (a small foreign company with about 20 employees, minimal assets and no experience operating a mine) nor the MDNR (which has no experience permitting a non-ferrous metal mine) told the media is that both, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and the Tribal agencies who have participated in the whole process as "cooperating agencies", think the most recent draft of the PolyMet EIS (PDEIS) is inadequate and unlikely to comply with legal requirements.
WaterLegacy issued a press release summarizing the highly critical and professional comments of these agencies. Some highlights:
* The analysis of impacts on water resources is "fatally flawed."
* The failure to analyze the effect of taking Superior National Forest land from the public and exchanging it for other land is a "red flag" for environmental review.
* The strip mine would cause water pollution for at least 2000 years, if not perpetual pollution.
* The Draft EIS doesn't describe financial assurances to protect taxpayers if the PolyMet strip mine causes long-term damage.
The MDNR and the U.S. Corps of Engineers are legally responsible to make sure that the effects of the mine have been properly analyzed and that the Project will comply with federal and state laws. We believe that to delegate this huge task to citizens in the public review process is irresponsible. Read more ...
WaterLegacy Seeks Delay of PolyMet Mine Plan, Citing Flawed Pollution Control, Acid Mine Drainage and Risk of Increased Mercury in Fish in Northern Minnesota (February, 2009)
You can see the December 2008 and July 2009 versions of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) documents and agency comments.
December, 2009 update: The current Draft EIS inherits most of the inadequacies that have persisted through the several revisions over its 4-years development. Some pollution and mitigation information contained in earlier versions has been omitted. Now, the public participation required by the state non-ferrous reeclamation rules is inadequate.
After four yreas of development by the company and agencies, the public deserves more than 90 days spread over the holiday season to digest the huge document and implications, research improvements, and provide meaningful response. Water Legacy requested and extension until at least March 26; please join in making this request.
1/19/2010 MDNR and USACE denied request for extension.
