Environmentalists Seek More Comment Time on PolyMet Permits

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) _ Environmental groups are asking the Department of Natural
Resources to give the public more time to comment on the draft dam safety
permits for the planned PolyMet copper-nickel mine in northeastern Minnesota.

The latest request came Wednesday from four groups: WaterLegacy, the Center for
Biological Diversity, Friends of the Cloquet Valley State Forest and the Izaak
Walton League. It followed a request last week from the Minnesota Center for
Environmental Advocacy.

The 30-day comment period on the two draft permits closes Oct. 16. The most
important governs the mine's tailings basin.

The groups say 30 days isn't long enough to submit adequate responses, given
the importance of the permits to the project, the complexity of the issues
involved, the thousands of pages of supporting documents and the potential
safety risks.