https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/
The Minnesota Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to hear a challenge by environmental groups over the state’s copper-nickel mining rules.
Environmental groups argue the Department of Natural Resources’ rules regulating the mining of metals that do not contain iron — such as copper, nickel and other precious metals — were too vague and, therefore, unenforceable. The DNR maintains the rules were strong yet flexible.
But in August, Minnesota Court of Appeals unanimously upheld those rules, and called the DNR’s non-ferrous rules “valid.” Six environment groups had filed the original appeal, but only two groups, the Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness and the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, petitioned the Supreme Court to review the case after the Court of Appeals upheld the rules.
Friends of the Boundary Waters spokesperson Pete Marshall said the group was “extremely disappointed” Tuesday. “As it stands, an unelected official, who is subject to immense political pressure, calls the shots,” Marshall said. “This is good for the mining companies but not the people of Minnesota.”
Jon Cherry, president and CEO of PolyMet, the mining company trying to open the state’s first copper-nickel mine near Hoyt Lakes and Babbitt, said the company was pleased with the decision.
For the rest of this article: https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/business/energy-and-mining/4745442-Minnesota-Supreme-Court-wont-take-up-copper-nickel-mining-rules