How To Stop Mining In The US -- October 7, 2014

This is perhaps one of the most incredible stories I've ever read. I may go back and re-read Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged.

DNR is looking to continue mining an old mine. The process to get the required permits has taken six years so far.

The story takes place in Minnesota.

In all, 21 permits are required and yet to be issued.

Before the permitting agencies could proceed, an environmental impact statement was needed and the public was allowed to comment. They received 54,000 comments:

In all, Landwehr said the agency received about 58,000 comments. Among those, there were about 8,000 unique subjects or thoughts, he said, that regulators must respond to.

The DNR, U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are reviewing, categorizing and analyzing the comments to determine how best to respond to the issues and concerns raised.

To process these comments and work the permits:

The DNR and Pollution Control Agency are sharing an extra $1 million annually, as of July 1, to hire six to eight new staff members who will help process permit applications and permit renewals from the mining industry.

So, where do "they" stand?

“We’ve got 45 people working on it, counting the consultants,” Landwehr said, adding that PolyMet has made several changes to its proposal to address several of the comments made. The changes aren’t enough to require anther a round of public input, Landwehr said, but are “definite improvements’’ to the proposal.

If and when the environmental review is deemed adequate, PolyMet hopes to apply for state and federal permits — an estimated 21 are needed — to begin construction and mining. The company also must secure long-term financing from creditors to build out the mine.

Good news, bad news: They have a date, sort of, maybe six months from now they might have the environmental impact statement complete. Right.

Those 45 consultants? Lots of two-martini lunches.