Category Archives: Sulfide Mining

In September 2012, I helped Matthew Tyler, a forester living in Northeastern Minnesota, file a petition asking that the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) prepare an environmental assessment worksheet (EAW) before they sold non-ferrous mineral leases at auction to … Continue reading →

Last Monday, WaterLegacy, represented by Paula Maccabee, filed suit in federal district court asking that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency decision to allow the Mesabi Nugget iron plant a “variance” from complying with water quality standards be overturned. Similar lawsuits … Continue reading →

KFAI’s Truth to Tell program is trekking north to Duluth to provide live television as well as on-line coverage for folks who want to learn more about sulfide mining. See Flyer for Truth to Tell June 12 Sulfide Mining. Panelists will … Continue reading →

On December 17, 2012, just about two years after the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce filed its lawsuit to prevent enforcement of the wild rice sulfate standard, the Minnesota Court of Appeals affirmed the Chamber’s case.  Court of Appeals Decision — Affirming … Continue reading →

Here is the Appeals Brief filed today on behalf of WaterLegacy defending the wild rice sulfate standard. WaterLegacyAppealsBrief(WildRiceStandard)(8-6-12) A quick summary: the wild rice standard is constitutional, enforcement of the standard is well within the scope of authority of the Minnesota … Continue reading →

We learned this week that my client, WaterLegacy, has won an important case against the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. Judge Margaret Marrinan has upheld the wild rice sulfate standard challenged in the Chamber lawsuit and granted our motion for summary … Continue reading →

Okay, it took 18 years. From 1973, when Minnesota’s sulfate standard of 10 milligrams per liter was adopted in Rules to protect natural stands of wild rice all the way until October 2011, no water pollution permit for a mine … Continue reading →

Mining company representatives and state officials insist that sulfide mining can be done safely in Minnesota due to the toughness of Minnesota standards for sulfates (acid mine drainage), toxic mercury and other pollutants. But, what if the Minnesota Pollution Control … Continue reading →

For the past six weeks, WaterLegacy has been investigating the financial capacity of the PolyMet corporation, the company proposing Minnesota’s first sulfide mine, and track record of its significant financial backer, Glencore International AG (Glencore). We learned that PolyMet openly … Continue reading →

Just before the December Holidays (nice timing) the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce filed a lawsuit in Ramsey County attempting to block the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s enforcement of Minnesota’s water quality standard limiting sulfate discharge in wild rice waters (“Wild … Continue reading →