Dayton Says EIS Approval Isn’t Final Call on PolyMet Mine

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Gov. Mark Dayton says his administration's approval of the final environmental review for the proposed PolyMet copper-nickel mine isn't the final call on whether the project will move ahead. The company now needs to apply for a series of nearly two dozen state and federal permits.

Dayton told reporters that as far as he's concerned, the permitting process is where "the real environmental review ... is going to take place."

The Democratic governor says the state needs to ensure that PolyMet puts up enough money to cover cleanup costs in the event of a disaster or a closure. He says the state will hire an independent law firm to work those figures out.

Dayton says he remains "genuinely undecided" on whether the mine ultimately will be allowed.