US Steel Corp - Tailings - Wastewater Permit

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Comment From: Jacob Friend

8/20/25 @ 2:59 PM

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Comment From: Multiple Senders

8/20/25 @ 12:00 AM

Email comments received by multiple senders on 8-20-25.

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Comment From: Superior Mineral Resources LLC (William Boucher)

8/20/25 @ 12:00 AM

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Comment From: Patrick Swanson

8/19/25 @ 8:53 PM

The release of sulfates and other contaminants in wastewater represent socialized and ecological costs of doing business. These costs are borne by people, and the plant and animal life living in the surrounding area, and beyond, since water travels....↓

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Comment From: Wilbert Koskiniemi

8/19/25 @ 5:06 PM

To Whom It May Concern at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency,
As a resident of Northeast Minnesota, I am writing to express concern regarding the proposed enforcement of the 10 mg/L sulfate standard in the draft permit for Keetac. This standard, ...↓originally adopted in the 1970s based on research from the 1940s, does not reflect current scientific understanding of wild rice ecology or sulfate behavior in aquatic systems.
From a scientific perspective, requiring sulfate compliance at each individual outfall—when all discharges enter a single receiving water body—does not yield representative environmental data. A downstream compliance point would more accurately capture cumulative impacts and better inform ecological risk assessments.
Moreover, the MPCA's rejection of two site-specific sulfate standard (SSS) applications for Hay Lake, despite adherence to agency guidance and evidence of sustained wild rice health over nearly 60 years of discharge, raises concerns about the integration of empirical data into regulatory decisions. Research from the University of Minnesota and the 2018 Governor's Task Force on Wild Rice confirms that wild rice resilience is influenced by multiple factors—including iron and organic carbon content—and that no single sulfate threshold is universally applicable.
Beyond environmental science, this issue carries significant economic implications for our region. Mining is a cornerstone of Northeast Minnesota's economy, contributing over $1.8 billion annually and supporting more than 4,000 family-sustaining jobs. These positions offer wages significantly above the regional average, with mining workers earning approximately $1,708 per week, nearly $950 more than the average across all industries. The sector also accounted for over one-third of net new jobs in the region during recent growth periods.
The enforcement of an outdated sulfate standard threatens not only environmental integrity but also economic stability. Without a modern, site-specific, and scientifically defensible approach, Minnesota risks undermining industries that provide high-quality employment and economic resilience to rural communities.
I respectfully urge the MPCA to:
• Refrain from including sulfate limits in Keetac's permits. If limits are retained, revise the permits to include a single downstream compliance point and allow sufficient time for compliance.
• Fulfill the 2011 legislative mandate to update the sulfate standard using current ecological science and site-specific data.
Minnesotans deserve a regulatory framework that supports clean water, healthy ecosystems, and thriving communities. I encourage others to attend the upcoming public meeting and submit comments to ensure our voices are heard.

Wilbert Koskiniemi

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Comment From: Jeremy Harala

8/19/25 @ 4:31 PM

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Comment From: Lisa Bodine

8/19/25 @ 4:29 PM

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Comment From: Travis Kohlari

8/19/25 @ 3:48 PM

As a resident of a community affected by Keetac's operations, I am concerned about the MPCA's decision to require sulfate compliance at each outfall, despite all discharges entering a single water body. A downstream compliance point would more accura...↓

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Comment From: Bud Mickelson

8/19/25 @ 3:35 PM

As someone whose livelihood is directly tied to Keetac as a supplier of technical professional services, I am deeply concerned about the draft permits. The requirement for sulfate compliance at each outfall is not only scientifically inaccurate but a...↓

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Comment From: Jason Croteay\u

8/19/25 @ 3:29 PM

To Whom It May Concern at the MPCA,

As a resident of a community downstream from the Keetac facility, I am deeply concerned about the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's (MPCA) approach to sulfate compliance in the draft permits. Requiring complian...↓

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Comment From: Terra Friend

8/19/25 @ 3:22 PM

To Whom It May Concern at the MPCA,
As a resident of a community near the USS Keetac facility, I am deeply concerned about the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's (MPCA) approach to sulfate compliance in the draft permits. Requiring compliance at ea...↓

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Comment From: Brian Anderson

8/19/25 @ 10:12 AM

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Comment From: Multiple Senders

8/19/25 @ 12:00 AM

Grouped email comments received 8-19-25.

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Comment From: Amanda Hohlfelder

8/18/25 @ 4:09 PM

Hello,

I am writing to provide comments regarding public notice of draft NPDES permits MN0055948 and MN0031879 for the U. S. Steel Keetac tailings basin and mining area, respectively. I have interest in these draft permits because I, like most Minne...↓sotans, care deeply about protecting the environment.

I am concerned about the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's (MPCA) sulfate water quality standard of 10 mg/L for wild rice waters and its consequences to the Iron Range and communities across the state. MPCA was directed to review and update the wild rice sulfate standard in 2011 but has not done so to date. The future of Minnesota mines, local governments and other industries are critically affected by the enforcement of this outdated standard.

I strongly urge MPCA to update the wild rice sulfate standard considering current science and site-specific variables. The current 10 mg/L sulfate standard oversimplifies the environmental needs of wild rice. Many other factors determine wild rice resilience, such as water depth and fluctuation, predation, and competing vegetation. Wild rice has even proven to be successful in waters with sulfate levels up to 1,600 mg/L and beyond – 160 times higher than our current standard. The current 10 mg/L standard is not proven to be effective and compliance with it is unattainable for many businesses and communities. From wastewater facilities and small businesses to mines employing thousands of Minnesotans, the cost of meeting a 10 mg/L sulfate standard puts Minnesota at risk with no guaranteed outcome. Do not waste time, money and energy on a sulfate standard that doesn't make sense. I strongly urge you to refrain from including permit limits for sulfate until the time and resources are invested to develop a sulfate standard that follows modern science, addresses site-specific variables and contains cost as required by the 2011 law.

The current Keetac compliance schedule is too short and unattainable. There are currently no commercially proven and economical sulfate treatment strategies in place anywhere in the world. Time is needed to evaluate and develop treatment alternatives that are effective and achievable. Since these are some of the first permits to contain the 10 mg/L sulfate limit, other permittees will use the testing and engineering developed for compliance as a model in the future. Current treatment technologies to reduce sulfate levels result in increased solid waste that will be required to be landfilled, increased electrical usage, increased greenhouse gas emissions, and other negative environmental outcomes. Time and careful consideration are needed to develop feasible sulfate treatment that all Minnesotans can benefit from. The MPCA should allow a longer compliance schedule, or grant the variance, to provide more time to effectively find a feasible solution. The current compliance schedule does not include time for regulatory agency requirements such as environmental review, permitting and other authorizations that may be required.

The two draft permits require wild rice sulfate compliance at each of Keetac's outfalls, yet they all discharge to one water body where the MPCA has said the wild rice standard applies. The compliance point should protect that water body and be representative of the combined discharges from the Keetac facility. The permittee requested to combine sulfate compliance points to factually represent offsite discharges, however the MPCA denied that request. It is concerning that the MPCA will not consider the request, even though it is more factually accurate than what is contained in the draft permits. MPCA must modify the permits to include a single downstream compliance point as proposed by the permittee.

U. S. Steel has submitted two site-specific standard (SSS) requests for sulfate at Hay Lake near Keetac. The 2014 request was never acted upon by MPCA and the 2022 request was denied. These applications followed MPCA guidance and show that a higher sulfate standard than 10 mg/L is warranted. It is concerning that the MPCA does not take into account modern science and site-specific conditions. I urge the MPCA to reconsider the SSS applications as Keetac has been discharging to Hay Lake for almost 60 years with healthy wild rice in existence.

In summary, I urge the MPCA:

To refrain from including sulfate limits in Keetac's permits. If the permit limits remain as proposed, the MPCA must modify the permits to contain a single sulfate compliance point and allow more time for compliance.
To abide by the 2011 law and update the 10 mg/L sulfate standard that the state of Minnesota has recognized as being incorrect.
Thank you.

Amanda Hohlfeder
715-225-6956
1831 West Michigan Street, Duluth, MN

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Comment From: Iron Range Mayors (Daniel Manick)

8/18/25 @ 12:00 AM

Letter received 8/18/25. Mayor Support for Iron Mining, Keetac site-specific standard and variance.

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Comment From: Multiple Senders

8/18/25 @ 12:00 AM

See attached document for like-email comments received 8/18/25.

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Comment From: Range Association of Municipal... (Paul Peltier)

8/15/25 @ 12:49 PM

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Comment From: Lee Peterson

8/14/25 @ 1:21 PM

MPCA,
I agree with the MPCA that a sulfate variance at the Keetac Mine and Tailings Basin needs to be denied. It's incredible that they've been operating without a permit since 2016. That's sad.

Five years is too long to wait for them to come into c...↓

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Comment From: Brian Buxton

8/14/25 @ 12:00 AM

Email comment received 8/14/25

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Comment From: WaterLegacy (Paula Maccabee)

8/13/25 @ 8:43 AM

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Comment From: Anonymous Anonymous

8/13/25 @ 12:00 AM

Approximately 70 similar comments submitted via email on 8/13/25. Please see attachment for contents of the email submittal.

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Comment From: Multiple Senders

8/13/25 @ 12:00 AM

Group 1 of 2: Emails received from multiple senders on 8/13/25. Support denial of variance.

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Comment From: Multiple Senders

8/13/25 @ 12:00 AM

Group 2 of 2: Emails received from multiple senders on 8/13/25. Support denial of variance.

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Comment From: CURE (Hudson Kingston)

8/12/25 @ 1:47 PM

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Comment From: Matthew Salminen

7/24/25 @ 3:22 PM

Keetac has the lowest discharge level of sulfates already. Why set a limit at 10ppm for discharge water when drinking water is 250ppm? Ridiculous! At least there will be plenty of wild rice to eat when workers are unemployed. Use some common sense!

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Comment From: Patti Wallert

7/16/25 @ 4:47 PM

Although mining provides good paying jobs and supports many other businesses in our area I feel water is a precious resource that cannot be replaced. Water is as vital to our national security as is steel and precious metals. I am against issuing a v...↓

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Comment From: Bob Winston

7/14/25 @ 10:45 AM

Dear MPCA � simple question. Why are we not hearing in answer to the downstream sulfate issue �� any mention of Clearwater Biologic's proven solution to the problem.? Here we have a Minnesota company who, for but one example, installed a system at t...↓

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