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PolyMet Mining hopes to be the first Minnesota company to mine copper, nickel and precious metals in northern Minnesota. The company's NorthMet project would be located north of Hoyt Lakes in the Superior National Forest. Below is a timeline of the company's history in Minnesota.

 PolyMet leases mineral rights from U.S. Steel. The company would gain full rights to the NorthMet deposit in 2000.

 PolyMet begins environmental review process.

, which LTV Steel closed in 2001, laying off more than 1,000 workers.

 PolyMet completes feasibility study and company shares are offered on the American Stock Exchange, which later became the 

releases an Environmental Impact Statement

 The EPA finds the draft Environmental Impact Statement for PolyMet's proposed mine 

, a former Minnesota Pollution Control Agency commissioner under Gov. Tim Pawlenty, to help its lobbying efforts. Moore is currently PolyMet's executive vice president of environmental and governmental affairs.

 to produce finished copper at the mine. The company said the move would save money and lessen environmental impacts.

 against PolyMet's mine proposal, including website MiningTruth.org and billboards along Interstate 35 between the Twin Cities and Duluth. 

. PolyMet's longtime CEO Joe Scipioni stays with the company and continues to hold the title of chief operating officer.

 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

 on PolyMet's environmental review, compared to the inadequacies EPA officials found in 2010.

 The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources releases the draft supplement to the Environmental Impact Statement for PolyMet's NorthMet copper-nickel mine. A comment period on the report begins.

 When PolyMet expects the final Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed NorthMet project to be issued.

 When PolyMet hopes to have permits in hand for the NorthMet copper-nickel mine.

 The earliest PolyMet expects construction could take place on the NorthMet copper-nickel mine.

FAQ: Everything you need to know about PolyMet

PolyMet copper-nickel mine: Economic opportunity or too environmentally risky?

Photos: At PolyMet, ramping up to mine copper

State auditor wants more info on copper-nickel mining's effects

Environmental review of proposed copper nickel mine delayed until Dec. 6

Elizabeth Dunbar

Author

PolyMet Mining hopes to be the first Minnesota company to mine copper, nickel and precious metals in northern Minnesota. The company's NorthMet project would be located north of Hoyt Lakes in the Superior National Forest. Below is a timeline of the company's history in Minnesota.


The concentrator building runs almost half a mile

Timeline: PolyMet's history in Minnesota

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