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Final permit granted for PolyMet mine project

The Army Corps of Engineers says the project will impact 500 fewer acres of wetlands when compared with PolyMet's original plan, while environmentalists say it could bring catastrophe.
Credit: KARE 11
An environmental group says the design for the proposed PolyMet copper-nickel mine in northeastern Minnesota has changed in significant ways that require regulators to take a fresh look.

ST PAUL, Minn. —  The Army Corps of Engineers has awarded the planned PolyMet copper-nickel mine in northeastern Minnesota the final permit it needs to proceed.

The permit deals with how PolyMet will mitigate the project's effects on wetlands. The Corps says the project will impact 500 fewer acres of wetlands compared with PolyMet's original proposal.

Minnesota regulators issued the other key permits for the project last year, but the mine still faces court challenges from environmental groups that maintain  the mining project could lead to pollution and potentially catastrophic discharges.

Col. Sam Calkins, commander of the Corps' St Paul District, said Friday they're confident that the permit will allow access to important mineral resources while maximizing protections for natural resources, including wetlands.

In a separate statement, PolyMet calls it a "historic achievement" that will let it move forward with building Minnesota's first copper-nickel mine. The group Jobs for Minnesotans also lauds the granting of the permit, saying it will bring jobs and economic benefits to an area of the state that needs them. 

“PolyMet will bring approximately 360 well-paying and family-sustaining jobs to northeastern Minnesota communities, re-energizing the region’s supplier and professional service network and assure long-term employment for skilled tradespeople," read a statement released by Jobs for Minnesotans. "The project will also generate an estimated $515 million annually to cultivate a more diverse and thriving regional and statewide economy, as well as create access to essential metals to power the green economy and our modern world.”

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