MPCA includes greater protection for wild rice waters in Keetac mining water permits
Jul 25, 2025 06:14AM ● By Content Editor
Photo: Arthur Thompson on Unsplash.com
From the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - July 25, 2025
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) seeks public comment on two draft industrial wastewater permits for U.S. Steel Corp.’s Keetac mining area and tailings basin in Keewatin. These permits will improve protections for wild rice waters and human health.
Keetac produces taconite pellets for use at iron and steel mills. The two draft industrial wastewater permits apply to the facility’s mining plant area, all of its mine excavations, and the nearby tailings basin.
The draft permits update several requirements and make changes to previous permits including:
- updated compliance schedules for meeting requirements to limit sulfate in water discharges
- water monitoring that accounts for various sources and effects of discharge, with limits to protect areas downstream
- new requirements for surface water monitoring in the tailings basin permit
- monitoring for dissolved mercury according to the MPCA’s mercury strategy
- monitoring for nitrogen according to the MPCA’s nutrient reduction strategy
In May 2025, U.S. Steel requested a variance from the water quality standard for sulfate that protects waters in which wild rice grows and is harvested. Upon review of the documents, the MPCA has made the preliminary decision to deny the variance request.
Open for public comment
The draft wastewater permits for the U.S. Steel Keetac facility's mine and tailings basin are now available for public comment.
Comments and public meeting
To ensure compliance with the Clean Water Act, the MPCA drafted National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System/State Disposal System (NPDS/SDS) permits for the Keetac facility and invites the public to comment on them via SmartComment. The 60-day comment period begins on July 8, 2025. The MPCA will consider comments as it revises and finalizes the permits.
An in-person public informational meeting regarding these permits will take place on Sept. 3, 2025, at the Iron Trail Motors Event Center, 919 6th Street South in Virginia, Minnesota.
For more information on the permits and to sign up for updates on permitting, rulemaking, and other actions related to mining in northeast Minnesota, visit the MPCA’s Keetac web page.
Public meeting
The MPCA will host an informational meeting to discuss the draft permits and the preliminary variance denial from 6-7:30 p.m. on Sept. 3 at the Iron Trail Motors Event Center in Virginia, Minn.
