Project summary
Calumet Reclamation Company proposes to use scram mining methods to process legacy stockpiles and tailings containing hematite at the former Hill Annex Mine in Itasca County. Project activities would include the demolition of certain historic properties owned by the DNR, which requires the mandatory preparation of an EAW for the project. The hematite from the project would be processed into a concentrate-type product with an expected throughput of approximately 1,000 long tons of material per hour and a total of 62 million long tons mined over the life of the project. The resulting concentrate would be transported by rail to an iron production facility in Minot, North Dakota that manufactures a type of iron called pig iron.
Environmental Assessment Worksheet
The DNR, as the Responsible Governmental Unit (RGU) for environmental review of the project, is accepting comments on the EAW.
EAW documents
Public comment period
The EAW was published in the Oct. 27, 2026, edition of the EQB Monitor. A 30-day public review and comment period is open from Oct. 27, 2026, until 4:30 p.m. Nov. 30, 2026.
A hard copy of the EAW may be requested by calling 651-259-5126 and is available for public review at the following libraries:
DNR Library, 500 Lafayette Road North, St. Paul
Marble Public Library, 302 Alice Ave, Marble
Calumet Public Library, 932 Gary St, Calumet
The DNR will accept comments until 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30, 2026. People can submit comments by:
Using the DNR’s online commenting webpage; or
Mailing comments to Hill Annex EAW Project Manager, Environmental Review Unit, DNR Ecological and Water Resources Division, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4025.
Anyone providing a mailing address or submitting online comments will receive a copy of the subsequent decision document, which will include responses to comments. Because all comments and related information are part of the public record for this environmental review, commenters’ names and email or postal addresses will be published and publicly available as they appear in the materials commenters submit.