U.S. Steel Keetac Tailings Storage Facility Project

Project summary

U.S. Steel is proposing to modify its existing Tailings Storage Facility for its Keetac taconite mining operation in St. Louis and Itasca Counties. Activities would involve vertically raising the existing dams and dikes using downstream and modified centerline construction methods, that would extend the dam and dikes beyond the current tailings storage facility’s footprint. The Project would also involve constructing a new access road, as well as new industrial building and infrastructure for tailings separation and tailings dewatering. The infrastructure would produce coarse tailings for use in dam and dike construction and thickened fine tailings for discharge to the tailings storage facility. The project proposes revisions to the existing tailings basin, but there are no proposed revisions to mining activities or taconite processing facilities.

Record of Decision on Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW)

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), as the Responsible Governmental Unit (RGU) for environmental review of the U.S. Steel Keetac Tailings Storage Facility Project (Project), has issued a Record of Decision (ROD) regarding the Need for an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the project.

The DNR has concluded that an EIS is not required because the Project does not have the potential for significant environmental effects. The justification for this determination is contained in the ROD. The ROD also contains the DNR’s responses to all written comments received on the EAW during the 30-day public review and comment period.

Issuing this ROD concludes the state environmental review process for this Project according to the State Environmental Review rules, Minnesota Rules part 4410.1000 to 4410.1700. This project can proceed to permitting and approvals.

ROD documents

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