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News
Hibbing Daily Tribune
January 15, 2010
HIBBING — Those at the helm of city’s arm of economic development have tossed their weight behind PolyMet, the proposed non-ferrous mining operation for the former LTV site in Hoyt Lakes.
Members of the Hibbing Economic Development Authority (HEDA) unanimously adopted a resolution of “full support” for the mining project Wednesday.
PolyMet will use the refurbished Cliffs Erie taconite processing facility to extract copper, nickel, palladium, platinum, cobalt and gold from mineral deposits dug from an open pit mine six miles south of Babbitt.
The project would cost estimated $380 million, would require 1.5 million hours of construction over two years, and result in about 400 full-time jobs once fully operational, according to the resolution.
“PolyMet will provide millions of dollars in local and state taxes to provide much needed support to our communities,” reads the resolution. “PolyMet will have a positive economic impact on the City of Hibbing, just as LTV Steel Mining company had when it was operating.”
Adoption of the resolution comes during the comment period for the project’s draft Environmental Impact Statement, which explores potential impacts and ways to address them. Comments are being accepted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) now through Feb. 3.
HEDA will send the resolution to the DNR.
Mayor Rick Wolff, who moved adoption of the resolution, said the ultimate hope is that PolyMet will secure the necessary permits and be allowed to proceed.
“There’s no denying or escaping the fact that this is a very important project to Northeastern Minnesota,” said Wolff. “It may not be on the same plane as Essar, but very close to what we need to happen — the real diversification of the mining industry in itself as compared to what we normally do here.”
The same resolution is anticipated to be put before the city council next week.
“We need to demonstrate our support from the city’s economic development group but also from the city for the many good things that could happen to the city because of this project moving forward,” said Wolff.
