Minnesota Reviews Impact of Planned PolyMet Mine

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Minnesota officials say they want to finish the final environmental analysis for a proposed copper and nickel mine by next spring.

Minnesota Public Radio News reports the state recently finished its initial review of nearly 60,000 comments it received on the draft environmental impact statement on PolyMet Mining Corp.'s plans for a $650 million mine near Hoyt Lakes.

Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Tom Landwehr says officials will incorporate roughly 8,000 ideas from the comments into the final environmental statement.

Landwehr says he is frustrated with the process but the department wants to be ''as thorough and diligent as possible.''

PolyMet will need to apply for more than 20 permits needed to develop a mine if state and federal regulators approve the environmental analysis.