Legalectric

Talon Metals is in the news…

Talon hits high-grade massive sulphide mineralisation at Tamarack Nickel

… and it’s something Minnesota needs to pay attention to. I got a heads up from a friend who lives nearby, at a time when they were expanding the area they were “exploring.” Their location in Tamarack seems, well, like something I’d expect of a company HQ in British Virgin Islands, though the article has them posing in front of a different building:

From the article above, “The early stage study estimated initial capex of US$83.33 million and an after-tax payback of 2.5 years. The PEA, which used a nickel concentrate price of US$2.67 per lb., forecast an after-tax net present value of US$291 million, at a 7% discount rate, and an internal rate of return of 36%.“

And this:

An updated preliminary economic assessment in March 2020 envisioned an underground mine producing 4.9 million tonnes of processed ore over eight years at all-in sustaining costs of US$3.57 per lb. of nickel concentrate.

Looking at these “maps” I’m thinking of knee surgery, hard to recognize as a map:

This is more like it:

This looks like their area, from google earth (how did we live without the internet?):

Check this inset map in lower right corner — huge file, doesn’t want to save, so here’s the link: https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/lands_minerals/mpes_projects/mnmin2017_coppernickel.pdf

Legalectric post from a while ago:

Tamarack copper-nickel exploration?

And here’s their PR blurb:

PolyMet’s Draft Site Permit has been released by the Dept. of Natural Resources.  Here’s the link:

DNR’s Draft Site Permit (scroll down)

And in there are some links — official word from Barb Naramore, DNR, is that the Permit to Mine Application & Appendices and DNR’s Draft Special Conditions constitute the “Draft Site Permit” for the PolyMet mine, based on this statement:

Following review of PolyMet’s permit to mine application, DNR has prepared draft special conditions for the application. Together, the application and the draft special conditions are considered the draft permit to mine for the NorthMet project.

Guess that’s what they’re presenting as the “Draft Site Permit” for review and comment, but it looks pretty bizarre to me!

Here is that application and special conditions:

• Permit to Mine Application and Appendices (755 MB)
  (12/13/2017)
• Appendix 16 provided separately – Final Environmental Impact Statement and Related Environmental Reports(1.3 GB)
  (12/13/2017)
• Appendix 18.1 Wetland Replacement Plan Attachment D-1 (1 MB)
  (01/05/2018)
• DNR’s Draft Special Conditions (2 MB) 

Why did I ask about this?  You’ll note above, there is the DNR’s Draft Special Conditions, but tell me, do you see a Draft Site Permit anywhere?  I’d spent a lot of time looking, and cannot find anything that resembles a “Draft Site Permit.”  So I asked around.  Oh, but wait, there’s no project contact info on any of the DNR’s pages or press release.  WHAT? No problem, I have contact info for the chief grand poohbahs at the DNR, and that worked.

To Comment:

DNR’s PolyMet’s Permitting COMMENT Page (note you are asked to accept set up to Comment online

In the news:

4 things to know about the PolyMet mine — MPR

With Minnesota mining permit, PolyMet proposal reaches a turning point – STrib

Comments will be accepted through March 6, 2018.  Two public meetings (not hearings?) will be held.  Petitions for a Contested Case may NOT be filed using the online commenting form, so they say at the link above!

Comments and objections may be submitted by US mail to the following address: MN Department of Natural Resources Division of Lands and Minerals 500 Lafayette Road, Box 45 St. Paul, MN 55155-4045 Public comments and written objections will be accepted at two scheduled public meetings: Wednesday, February 7, 2018 Mesabi East (Aurora-Hoyt) High School 601 N 1st St W, Aurora, MN 55705 4:00-9:00 p.m.  open house 6:00-9:00 p.m.  public comment forum Thursday,  February 8, 2018 DECC – Duluth Entertainment Convention Center 350 Harbor Drive, Duluth, MN 55802 1:00-9:00 p.m.  open house 6:00-9:00 p.m.  public comment forum

There was a meeting at the Red Wing library Monday night about the rumored fracking sand mine south of Re d Wing, and just north of Hay Creek.  By the time the meeting was underway, it was standing room only.

The article from the Red Wing Republican Beagle is down below.

Here’s a post with some details of this project to be:

No frackin’ way!!!

Goodhue County’s Article 14 covers mining, but so far it’s been aggregate, and not silica, and it’s a different process, whole different sort of mining, so my thought is that Article 14 needs some amendments.  A ordinance change application is just $500 and some work to draft language…

Here’s a map — the site is on the left, and the transfer station in Florence Twp. is on the right, a railroad spur west of Hwy 61 near Hanson’s Harbor:

Citizens turn out in large numbers against possible Goodhue County sand mine

By: Regan Carstensen, The Republican Eagle

Keith Fossen speaks to more than 100 citizens at the “Stop the Silica Sand Mine” meeting held Monday night at the Red Wing Public Library.

“We were so afraid. We thought, we hope we get at least 10 people,” said Kathleen Bibus, one of the organizers of Monday’s “Stop the Silica Sand Mine” meeting.

They got their 10 people – 10 times over.

More than 100 citizens filled a Red Wing Public Library meeting room to learn what they can do about preventing silica sand from being mined across 155 acres in Hay Creek Township just two miles south of Red Wing.

Windsor Permian, part of the Oklahoma-based Windsor Energy, bought the land for $2.6 million earlier this year, and although it’s unknown what the company will do with the land, many citizens fear it will be used to mine silica sand.

Silica sand, as opposed to normal sand, is worth about $1,400 per ton.

Windsor Permian has already drilled exploratory wells, which can be done without a permit, but the company has not turned in any kind of application to Goodhue County for a permit allowing the mining of silica sand.

Goodhue County Land Use Management Director Lisa Hanni said that without having received an application, the county does not know many details about Windsor Permian’s plans.

“Let’s be realistic though, nobody pays $2.6 million for topsoil,” said Goodhue County Commissioner Jim Bryant, who helped answer questions from the public at the meeting. He lives in Hay Creek Township.

Citizens have the same mindset and are anticipating the company will apply for a permit to start mining.

If an application is turned in, the county is bound by state statute to make a decision about the permit within 60 days, unless an environmental assessment worksheet is needed. An EAW will be necessary if the aggregate mining operation is expected to exceed 40 acres in size to a mean depth of 10 feet.

One of the concerns citizens at the meeting raised was whether the sand mine would impact the groundwater and affect Hay Creek.

The public also asked if a permit is allowed with certain conditions listed, who would enforce them? For example, if an aggregate tax is required, Windsor Permian would have to report exactly how much sand it is taking out, but citizens at the meeting seemed hesitant to believe the required reporting would be enforced.

If and when a completed application from Windsor Permian is turned in, the Goodhue County Planning Commission will hold a hearing for anyone to come and voice more concerns.

For more info on the other end of the process, what they use the sand for (fracking) and to learn about what they’re doing with proppants:

Damascus Citizens.org

NO FRACKING

STOP FRACKING NOW! (problem with site?)

In the New York Times (very interesting to learn that instant coffee is used!!!):

Millions of Gallons of Hazardous Chemicals Injected Into Wells

And here’s how bad it’s gotten in Pennsylvania:

PA DEP, Marcellus Shale Coalition Admit Drilling Wastewater Likely Contamination Drinking Water

WOW… and here I thought PolyMet’s Draft EIS was as moribund as the EIS for Excelsior Energy’s Mesaba Project.  Nope, here it is:

PolyMet Mining Draft EIS

It’s HUGE, it will take a while, there are a lot of parts.

They are not accepting comments until after November 2, so after that time, I’ll post info on that.