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Duluth News Tribune
February 25, 2010

Anti-copper mining forces can take heart: The process to assure a responsible project is working just as it was supposed to.

Opponents railed for years that existing environmental laws would be powerless and that state and federal agencies would be unwilling to protect Northeastern Minnesota from this new kind of mining - with its less-than-stellar record and reputation. But this week, the largest environmental agency in the land has weighed in. And not with the rubber stamp some may have expected for the proposed PolyMet mine near Babbitt.

Rather, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, citing the state's stringent regulations, blasted the proposal, saying it could have "adverse environmental impacts." The U.S. EPA leveled its criticism in response to PolyMet's Draft Environmental Impact Statement, or DEIS, which, once accepted, is the company's publicly stated game plan for responsible operations and environmental sensitivity. But the DEIS, at this point, is "environmentally unsatisfactory," "inadequate" and "underestimate[s] water quality impacts," the EPA said in a letter dated Feb. 18.

The harsh words are an embarrassment to PolyMet, which should have known as well as the EPA what's allowable and what's unacceptable under state and federal environmental and other laws and regulations.

But the EPA's opinion doesn't kill PolyMet. Far from it. And that's good news for a region banking on the $600 million project to create hundreds of permanent jobs and to help usher in a more diversified Iron Range economy. In addition, other precious-metals mining operations, with promises of hundreds of more jobs, are lining up behind PolyMet.

The flagging of shortcomings during the review process could lead to an even stronger, more environmentally sensitive project - just as it should. Changes to address concerns already are being promised. PolyMet, on its Web site, said: "The Final EIS will likely incorporate many of the suggestions from the EPA and others that have been proposed during the public comment period." Added Frank Ongaro, president of the industry group Mining Minnesota: "I'm guessing that the EPA's concerns will be looked at and likely many of them will be addressed as the environmental review process moves forward."

PolyMet could be a boon for Northeastern Minnesota. But the project has to be done right and in a way that doesn't harm or pollute our corner of the world. The ongoing permitting and environmental-review process is working as designed to help make sure.