Steve Karnowski of AP reports that a proposed nickel mine in Minnesota has begun the environmental review process.
- The environmental review process has begun for Talon Metals’ underground nickel mine in Tamarack, Minnesota which will provide Tesla with 75,000 tons of nickel along with iron and cobalt over the course of 6 years.
- Talon believes that the mine will generate over $100 million in royalties to local governments, tribes, and school districts. $7 million would go directly to the poorest county in Minnesota.
- To reach clean energy objectives, the U.S. will need more domestic mines like Talon to flourish.
- Policymakers should modernize regulations to bring more mining to the United States, where mining activities adhere to stricter environmental and labor standards than China.
“The footprint of the mine would be small — only about 60 to 80 acres. No ore would be processed on site; it would be taken by covered rail cars to the drier environment of Mercer County in western North Dakota, where all the waste would be sealed in concrete for storage. All water from mine operations would be collected and treated before being returned to the environment. Access from the surface to the high-grade ore body around 500 to 2,000 feet (150 to 600 meters) below the surface would be through sealed, concrete-lined tunnels to limit seepage of groundwater.”
Read the full article here.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of C3.
