1. Taconite Ore Mining in Minnesota A Tribal Perspective Brandy Toft Air Quality Specialist Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe National Tribal Forum 2015

2. 2 Tribal Ceded Territories and near 5 Reservations

4. Mining in Minnesota ~17 mines currently permitted or in process of permitting Mining on the Iron Range Open pit mining. Scram Sulfide in-situ. Underground (past) Up to 26 “rumored” to be operational in next few years Currently in down-turn, but for how long?

5. Open Pit Mining

6. 250 Ton Trucks 14 feet tall, 54 lug nuts, cost approximately $45,000 per tire

7. Mining Concerns Tribes were concerned over the number of mines restarting, expanding, & exploration Only two Tribes had TAS status Expressed concern during 1/4ly Tribal Environmental meetings to the State Pollution Control Agency Lack of Tribal input, felt Tribes were kept out of the loop and not heard

8. Mining Concerns Old “abandoned” mines that ARE current brownfield/ superfund sites to be re-used/expanded Permits years to decades out of date –5 year review Water permit was last issued 1992 Active SOCs delay permit re-issuances Tribes, by legislative action, can not find out information on SOC till complete Lack of state permit writers = back log of permits Did I mention political climate? Jobs jobs jobs…

9. The Start Tribes expressed want to comment in a meaningful manner Worked with State Tribal Liaison to establish a guidance document for State Title V permits Met with resistance = fear of change Negotiations ensued State treat all Tribes equally = less confusion Premises of pseudo TAS for all

10. Language from Agreement The MPCA staff will offer to meet and share information on the permit application and project schedule with each of the eleven (11) Minnesota Indian Tribes potentially affected by the following air quality permitting actions when the facility to be permitted is located within the counties of interest as identified by each Tribe The meetings with the Indian Tribe or Tribes will be initiated by the MPCA and will take place shortly after an MPCA air quality permit engineer has been assigned to the project and before any permit drafting has begun. If the MPCA will be conducting a site visit as part of the permitting process, the MPCA staff, when possible and with the facility’s approval, will invite an Indian Tribal staff member to accompany the MPCA on the site visit for the purposes of identifying issues and/or potential environment concerns Tribes to be notified when State gets permit for early involvement in the process

11. 1/4ly Tribal Mining Meeting First meetings held in 2007 – continue today Due to amount and speed of projects agreed meeting quarterly First few meetings Potentially pacifying Tribes were serious, tenacious MPCA saw value in Tribal input & potential wrenches Stressed technical meetings, not consultation

12. Part of the Process Meet each quarter in a different location 7 out of 11 Tribes attend – Air, Water, GAP, Wetlands, Brownfield, Environmental Directors MPCA and DNR lead mining technical staff and decision makers ~ 5-10 representatives Discuss updates on current mine issues: EISs, permits, land sales, 101s, mine presentations

13. 2 Tribal Ceded Territories and near 5 Reservations

14. Experience Allowed for improved relations?? Politics has changed perceptions…rollercoaster of sincerity? Strive for real input Wildrice and sulfate levels Wetland resources, Hg levels Air emission levels (NO x, SO x, Hg, ect..) Addressing Cultural Resources MN won’t reach their regional haze glide path levels with the additional facility emissions

15. Tribes pushing forward Keep State honest, not to take the easy or facility lobbied route Taconite FIP – NO x SO x in current processing Mining facilities have seen it is easier/better for the process to involve the Tribes early in permitting process MPCA/DNR provide informational 101s Facilities provide updates, special meetings Tribes can choose to be cooperating agencies in EISs Now 3 Tribes have TAS and one is attaining Class 1

16. Brandy Toft Air Quality Specialist Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe air@lldrm.org 218-335-7429