Governor Mark Dayton is in Nashwauk today, trying to re-start construction of a taconite plant that he says Essar appears unable to finish. Dayton says, “We have put Essar on notice for the last nine months –… in fact we extended it for a year to a July 1st of 2016 deadline — for them to fulfill the terms of the leases, which is to be engaged in production. The situation’s gotten worse since then, not better.” Cliffs Natural Resources has expressed interest in finishing the project. But Essar officials say the state canceling their mineral leases is invalid and they’re securing new financing to complete the project in Nashwauk.