State Senator Dave Tomassoni from Chisholm says he’s optimistic construction will resume now that the D-N-R is reinstating mineral leases for the new owners of the bankrupt Essar Steel project in Nashwauk, Chippewa Capital Partners. He says, “I have no reason to *not* believe that this is gonna go forward now — at least get into the construction phase.” Tomassoni says, “That is the best ore body on the Range, and so the fact that somebody… absolutely is going to be using it now is a big deal.” He says it might even be positive for a place like Hibbing Taconite that’s looking for more ore.
It’s been over a year since a bankruptcy judge in Delaware authorized Chippewa to revive the project. Governor Mark Dayton says it will bring new jobs and economic vitality to Minnesota’s Iron Range.
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