The state Court of Appeals is considering, after hearing arguments from both sides today, whether to cancel two key permits for the proposed PolyMet copper-nickel mine and order additional scrutiny of that project. It comes after a mine dam with some similarities to PolyMet failed. Aaron Klemz with Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy says, “We’ve seen recent examples of this kind of construction, called upstream dam construction, failing with tragic consequences in Brazil in January of 2019.”
Also at issue is which entity appears on the permit and is legally liable, after a Swiss company acquired a controlling stake in PolyMet. Attorneys for the Minnesota D-N-R and PolyMet argued in court today that the project has met legal requirements.