ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The company hoping to build a copper-nickel mine in northeastern Minnesota says it will add wetlands elsewhere to offset the loss of more than 900 acres the project would cause.
PolyMet Mining Corp. told the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers it would add or repair wetlands on 1,600 acres it owns in St. Louis, Pine and Aitkin counties. That would more than offset wetlands lost at the planned mine and processing site near Hoyt Lakes.
Minnesota Public Radio (https://bit.ly/J0xklE ) reports the wetland permit application to the Corps is the first for PolyMet in what will be a long permitting process.
PolyMet officials expect to start applying for the other permits needed to build the mine after the public comment period on a broader environmental impact statement has concluded in March.
