ST. PAUL, Minn. – Today the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced the approval of a variety of permits for Polymet’s NorthMet project, including a permit to mine. The permit to mine includes a comprehensive package of Polymet-funded financial assurances should the mine close.
State Rep. Jason Metsa (DFL – Virginia) issued the following statement:
“We’ve been waiting for this for a long time, and I’m extremely proud of our hard work over the last several years resulting in permits being granted for Polymet to move forward. The project will create many high-paying, good-quality jobs on the Iron Range and will help ensure our region’s future economic vitality. Further, the DNR’s thorough review along with robust financial assurance requirements highlight that we can accomplish this while protecting our cherished natural resources. We know we can mine needed precious metals right here in Minnesota, and the permits show we have the ability to do so safely. This is welcome news from the Minnesota DNR, and I look forward to the next steps to make this operation a reality.”