Duluth News Tribune reported that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has a draft air emissions permit ready for public review for Essar Steel Minnesota's iron ore mining and taconite pellet production facility in Nashwauk.

The permit will be the subject of a public hearing set for February 9th 2012 from 6PM to 8PM at the Nashwauk Keewatin High School in Nashwauk. PCA staff will provide an overview of the agency's permit process and a description of the changes proposed in this permitting action. A question and answer session will follow and formal public comments will be taken.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources conducted a supplemental environmental assessment for the project during 2011 and determined in a recent finding that the Final Environmental Impact Statement was adequate, which means the proposed project may proceed with subsequent permitting applications.

Essar Steel's proposed air emissions permit requires the company to:

1. Burn natural gas for fuel in its pellet plant and steel production facility

2. Use pollution control technologies to operate its pellet plant, including special burners designed to minimize nitrogen oxide emissions. Reductions in nitrogen oxide help improve visibility and clear air conditions for nearby areas, including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Voyageurs National Park

3. Install mercury control technology at the pellet plant. The company says it will plan is to increase taconite production 60% beyond the facility's original plan but do it without emitting any additional mercury. Under the permit, Essar would use activated carbon injection and bag house collection equipment to control mercury

4. Change from the originally proposed wet air pollution controls to dry air pollution controls. This will result in lower levels of contaminants in the facility's process water

5. Use diesel engines that are compliant with the highest certified control standards to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions from equipment, such as trucks, shovels and drills

(Sourced from www.duluthnewstribune.com)