PolyMet Strip Mine Facts – Flaws in Project and Science

Citizens soon will have an opportunity to comment on the proposed PolyMet open-pit metallic sulfide mine near Hoyt Lakes, MN when the Minnesota DNR (Department of Natural Resources) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers release a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). 

WaterLegacy has reviewed a preliminary draft of this DEIS released in December 2008. Based on this draft, we believe that there are important flaws in both the PolyMet project and the adequacy of the science used to evaluate its impacts. WaterLegacy sent a letter to the State and Federal agencies detailing our concerns.

Click here to READ the complete 12-page Letter to the Agencies on PolyMet CPDEIS Gaps.

 Here are some key points:

1.      The Tailings Basin Design does not meet minimum safety standards to prevent catastrophic failure and uncontrolled release of tailings to the Embarrass River.

2.      Technologies upon which PolyMet relies to treat contaminated water, prevent release of contaminants, including sulfuric acid compounds, are unspecified, untested or unreliable.

3.      The slope stability of waste rock stockpiles hasn’t been demonstrated – these huge piles could collapse and release contaminants to surface water.

4.      The PolyMet Project would significantly increase mercury levels in local fish, creating human health and ecological risks not assessed by PolyMet.

5.      Changes in water levels caused by the mine would affect a large surrounding area, impacting recreation as well as mercury levels and water quality.

6.      Multiple discharges from the PolyMet Project to surface water and ground water would violate Clean Water Act and State water quality standards, putting human health and animal species at risk.

7.      PolyMet hasn’t done the research needed on existing LTVSMC contamination and drinking water wells near the tailings basin.

Sulfide mining would be new to Minnesota, but it has been responsible for extensive and expensive acid mine drainage and environmental harms worldwide.  WaterLegacy believes that responsible and cooperating agencies have a legal and moral obligation to ensure that the technologies proposed for the massive PolyMet project are tested and supported with scientific data demonstrating that the Project would not impair water quality, habitat, human health and the environment.
 

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