Sustainable Development

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING PROCESS

Before a mining project can get underway, it must go through a detailed analysis of all potential impacts called environmental review. Once the environmental review process is complete, permits can be issued and construction can begin.

PolyMet's process is outlined below:

Draft Scoping Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW): The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers worked with PolyMet to develop a draft EAW that was released for public comment on June 6, 2005.

Scoping EAW: Once public comments were taken into consideration, state and federal regulators developed a final Scoping EAW that provided an outline for the detailed draft Environmental Impact Statement. The Scoping EAW was finalized on October 5, 2005.

Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS): This document analyzes in great detail all potential impacts, including environmental and socio-economic. To draft the EIS, the state hired an independent contractor, which is paid for by PolyMet. To date, PolyMet has submitted more than 100 technical reports to provide information for the EIS. The state’s contractor began work on the EIS in March 2006. Once the draft is complete, it will be released for public comment.

Environmental Impact Statement: State and federal regulators will review and respond to all public comments on the EIS and make appropriate changes. Once the state has determined the EIS is adequate, permits can be issued.

Permits: The major permits that PolyMet will require include a Permit to Mine, an integrated State Disposal System (SDS)/National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit, an Air Emission Permit and a Section 404 Permit for Wetland Impacts. These permits must be issued before PolyMet can begin construction.