Legalectric

Talon has filed it’s version of the Tamarack Mining Project EAW, and what happens next is the DNR takes that, reviews and revises it, makes it more complete hopefully, and THEN it’s open for public comment.

It’s confusing, the MN Dept. of Natural Resources permitting and environmental review process when compared with the Public Utilities Commission’s process that I’m steeped in. I had to check with the DNR as it made no sense to me. So I asked around, I did, and got this response with these details:

The DNR’s webpage is up to date; the proposed Tamarack Mining Project is currently early in the scoping phase of the environmental impact statement (EIS) process. The June 23^rd environmental assessment worksheet (EAW) document you referenced is an EAW data submission by Talon Nickel. During EIS scoping, the DNR requests that the project proposer (Talon Nickel) submit information to the DNR in the EAW form; we call these “data submittals”. The DNR reviews the data submittal for completeness and if incomplete, returns the EAW data submittal for corrections along with comments. You can view the DNR’s comments from previous EAW data submittals on the DNR’s Tamarack Mining Project webpage under the Other DNR documents section. This step can include several rounds of back and forth between the DNR and the project proposer to obtain the necessary information.

While the EAW data submittals are available for the public to view, they are not open to public comment. Once the DNR determines that the EAW data submittal is complete, the DNR will develop and publish a DNR-version of the EAW, called a scoping EAW, along with a draft scoping decision document (containing the proposed scope of the EIS) for public review and comment for a minimum of 30 days. The public review period will also include at least one public meeting. These documents will be formally noticed in the EQB Monitor and published on the DNR’s Tamarack Mining Project webpage under the Scoping EAW and draft scoping decision document section.

The March 20^th Lands and Minerals news release you referenced is regarding an exploration plan that Talon Nickel submitted to the DNR to continue nonferrous mineral exploration on state leases in Aitkin and Carlton counties. This exploration plan is different than Talon Nickel’s proposed Tamarack Mining Project that is currently undergoing environmental review (described in the previous two paragraphs).

To be kept informed of the environmental review process for the proposed Tamarack Mining Project, I suggest signing up for email updates. By signing up you will receive updates on any new environmental review project documents available for public viewing, quarterly updates, and notice of formal comment periods. General information about the state’s environmental review process can be found on the Environmental Quality Board website.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me.

Best,

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Here’s their Environmental Assessment Worksheet: