ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PolyMet Mining Corp., (“PolyMet” or the “company”) TSX: POM; NYSE AMERICAN: PLM – is pleased to announce that today the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources released its draft Permit to Mine. An approved permit would allow its wholly-owned subsidiary Poly Met Mining, Inc. (together “PolyMet” or the “company”) to construct and operate the NorthMet copper-nickel-precious metals mine under the DNR’s conditions.
In releasing the draft Permit to Mine for the PolyMet NorthMet Project, the DNR also announced that public hearings on the draft permit will be held February 7 and 8 in Aurora and Duluth, respectively. Separately today, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency announced that the February 7 and 8 events also will serve as public meetings on the draft air and water quality permits for the NorthMet mine with their respective conditions. The draft air and water permits, including related conditions, will be available from the PCA prior to the meetings. The state posts draft permits, their status and related information on www.polymet.mn.gov.
“We believe our mine design meets all necessary requirements to construct and operate the mine in compliance with state law under the published draft permit conditions,” said Jon Cherry, president and CEO. “Public comment on these conditions is the last step before DNR makes its final decision.”
The draft permit conditions detail monitoring, operating, reporting and inspection requirements during both the construction and operation of the mine. The draft Permit to Mine also details the reclamation and closure plan, short- and long-term water management plan, wetland replacement plan, and the financial assurance conditions, including amounts required to construct and begin operation of the mine.
The public comment period will close on March 6, 2018, after which the agencies will consider comments before making its final permit decisions.
“After many years of hard work we look forward to the opportunity of opening the first copper-nickel-precious metals mine in Minnesota. We recognize the significance of this opportunity and the responsibility we have to do it right,” Cherry said.
About PolyMet
PolyMet Mining Corp. (www.polymetmining.com) is a publicly traded mine development company that owns 100 percent of Poly Met Mining, Inc., a Minnesota corporation that controls 100 percent of the NorthMet copper-nickel-precious metals ore body through a long-term lease and owns 100 percent of the former LTV Steel Mining Company site, a large processing facility located approximately six miles from the ore body in the established mining district of the Mesabi Iron Range in northeastern Minnesota. The NorthMet Final Environmental Impact Statement was published in November 2015, preparing the way for decisions on permit applications. NorthMet is expected to require approximately two million hours of construction labor, create approximately 360 long-term jobs directly, and generate a level of activity that will have a significant multiplier effect in the local economy.
