I am pleased to see the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) deem the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) adequate. This is an important step for a project that will bring hundreds of good jobs to our region while sustaining the integrity of our rivers, lakes and land.
Today’s decision is a major win for the Iron Range. With hundreds of miners laid off due to the illegal dumping of millions of tons of foreign government subsidized steel into our marketplace, we need this project now more than ever. With more bad trade agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership threatening to exacerbate the crisis, we must move forward. And I will continue to do everything in my power to see that we do.
Over the past 10 years, the PolyMet approval process has always been, and will continue to be, about process – not politics. The commissioner and staff of the DNR deserve our thanks and gratitude for working so assiduously with the co-lead agencies to get the project to this point. PolyMet has made it clear from the very beginning that they are absolutely committed to support and comply with every rule, regulation and financial guarantee the process requires to protect our water, air and land. Make no mistake – the monitoring and enforcement process will be vigorous.
Minnesota Eighth District
Congressman Rick Nolan
Washington, D.C.
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