Mile Post 7 West Ridge Railroad Relocation, Dam Extension, and Stream Mitigation Project

The proposed project

Northshore Mining Company has proposed to conduct certain activities and stream mitigation at its Mile Post 7 Tailings Basin. The proposed Tailings Basin Features cover approximately 339.1 acres and consists of relocating the existing railroad embankment, extending Dams 1 and 2, constructing a Dam 1 rail switchback, and excavating clay from a borrow pit for dam construction. The project also includes approximately 20,665 linear feet of stream mitigation at six separate sites.

Environmental Assessment Worksheet

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), as the Responsible Governmental Unit (RGU) for environmental review of the Mile Post 7 West Ridge Railroad Relocation, Dam Extensions, and Stream Mitigation Project in Lake County, Minnesota, has issued an environmental Assessment worksheet (EAW) for public review and comment.

• RGU Cover Letter
• Environmental Assessment Worksheet
• Figures
  • Figure 1 Site Location Map
  • Figure 2-1 USGS Quadrangle Map
  • Figure 2-2 USGS Quadrangle Map
  • Figure 2-3 USGS Quadrangle Map
  • Figure 3 Land Cover
  • Figure 4-1 Zoning
  • Figure 4-2 Zoning
  • Figure 4-3 Zoning
  • Figure 5-1 Soil Types
  • Figure 5-2 Soil Types
  • Figure 5-3 Soil Types
  • Figure 6-1 Water Resources – Pre-Construction Surface Waters
  • Figure 6-2 Water Resources – Post-Construction Surface Waters
  • Figure 6-3 Water Resources – Pre-Construction Watersheds
  • Figure 6-4 Water Resources – Post-Construction Watersheds
  • Figure 6-5 Water Resources – Post-Construction Wells
  • Figure 7-1 Wetland Resources
  • Figure 7-2 Wetland Resources
  • Figure 8-1 Hazardous Material
  • Figure 8-2 Hazardous Materials
  • Figure 9 Foreseeable Future Projects
• Appendices
  • Appendix A.1 Tailings Basin Features Site Plan
  • Appendix A.2 Tailings Basin Features Select Cross-Sections
  • Appendix B East Branch Beaver River Restoration Site Plans
  • Appendix C East Branch Beaver River Tributary Restoration Site Plans 
  • Appendix D East Branch Beaver River Tributary Berm Restoration Site Plans
  • Appendix E  White Rock Creek Restoration Site Plans
  • Appendix F  Big and Little Thirtynine Creeks Restoration Site Plans
  • Appendix G Climate Trend Analysis and Carbon Footprint Estimation Data Sources and Output (available upon request)
  • Appendix H MCE Review and Concurrence
  • Appendix I   SHPO Correspondence
• Appendix J  List of Supplemental Information Known to RGU
  • J1-Debiting of Wetland Credits
  • J2-2021 DNR ERND
  • J3-1977 Master Permit
  • J4-1995 Master Permit Renewal
  • J5-1985 Permit to Mine
  • J6-2005 Permit to Mine Assignment, et. al
  • J7-2022 DNR Record of Decision
  • J8-DNR WCA Notice of Decision
  • J9-1975-76 Final EIS
  • J10-1975 Draft EIS
  • J11-MPCA Air Permit 07500003-101
  • J12-MPCA Solid Waste Permit SW-409
  • J13-1984 NPDES Permit MN0055301
  • J14-2005 NPDES Permit MN0055301
  • J15-Furnace 5 Reactivation Record of Decision
  • J16-MPCA MP7 Section 401 Certification
  • J17-1995-1998 5YOP
  • J18-2004-2008 5YOP
  • J19-2019-2023 5YOP
  • J20-Northshore Cumulative Effects Analysis
  • J21-Final Stream Mitigation Project
  • J22-Joint Permit Application/WRP
  • J23-1981 Permit to Mine Application
  • J24-1984 Water Discharge Study
  • J25-Reserve Mining Co. v. EPA 1975
  • J26-Reserve Mining Co. v. Herbst 1977
  • J27-1989 Stipulation Agreement
  • J28-USACE Environmental Assessment
  • J29-1977 USACE Final EIS
  • J30-USACE MP7 Section 404 Permit
  • J31-United States v. Reserve Mining Co. 1974

Public comment period

Public notice of the availability of this EAW for public comment is in the April 18, 2023, edition of the EQB Monitor. A 30-Day public review and comment period will be open from April 18, 2023, until 4:30 p.m. May 18, 2023.

A hard copy of the EAW is available for public review at:

• Silver Bay Public Library, 9 Davis Dr, Silver Bay, MN 55614

Send comments

Written and signed comments on the EAW must be received by 4:30 p.m. May 18, 2023. The comment period is now closed.

People who would like to receive a response that includes final documents should include their name and contact information. Because all comments and related information are part of the EAW public record, any submitted names and contact information will also be published and publicly available.

Electronic or email comments may be sent to [email protected]. Use Mile Post 7 Stream EAW in the subject line.

Extension of Record of Decision period

Pursuant to Minn. Rules 4410.1700, subp. 2a.B, DNR and Northshore Mining (proposer) have agreed to extend the Record of Decision period to November 30, 2023.  This is being done to collect lacking information necessary to determine whether the project has the potential to result in significant environmental effects.  DNR’s Record of Decision is due November 30, 2023, under the extension.

• Memo 1:  Extension on the Determination of the Need for an EIS Due to Insufficient Information for the Mile Post 7 West Ridge Railroad Relocation, Dam Extensions, and Stream Mitigation Project EAW (06/29/23)
• Memo 2: Extension on the Determination of the Need for an EIS Due to Insufficient Information for the Mile Post 7 West Ridge Railroad Relocation, Dam Extensions, and Stream Mitigation Project EAW (09/01/23)