A requirement that United States Steel Corporation’s Keetac mining facility in Keewatin observe a 10 mg per liter sulfate discharge standard may be removed after the House voted 116-12 to pass HF3726/SF3376* Saturday.
The bill now heads to the governor.
Sponsored by Rep. Jason Metsa (DFL-Virginia) and Sen. David Tomassoni (DFL-Chisholm), the bill would replace the “10 standard” with a new sulfate discharge limit yet to be determined by the Pollution Control Agency.
“Although the mine is idled, without a correction with regard to sulfate standard, reopening this mine would be even more difficult,” said Rep. Tom Anzelc (DFL-Balsam Township).
Metsa said during a committee hearing that the legislation was needed to avoid a lawsuit by United States Steel Corporation.