Backers of PolyMet gathered at the State Capitol on Tuesday’s session-opener, as that company asked the Minnesota Supreme Court to reverse an Appeals Court ruling that blocked permits for its proposed copper-nickel mine near Hoyt Lakes. Nancy Norr with the group Jobs for Minnesotans says after 15 years of scientific review, more scrutiny is unnecessary. “That could create an endless loop of contested case hearings and additional regulatory process that frankly would create such level of uncertainty and unpredictability… [that] I doubt Minnesota would remain competitive for investment,” Norr says.
And Tuesday a group of religious leaders delivered an open letter to Governor Tim Walz, lawmakers and state regulators, asking them to accept the Appeals Court order for additional review of the PolyMet project.