The USFS has released notification that the Superior National Forest has completed the environmental assessment (EA) for the Twin Metals Minnesota Hydrogeologic Study Special Use Permit and is providing a 30-day comment period on the proposed activity and analysis described in the EA. The EA “discloses the effects of special use authorization permits to access, use, and occupy national forest system lands in order to collect baseline hydrogeologic (ground water) environmental data. The proposed hydrogeologic study area is located near the South Kawishiwi River and Birch Lake approximately 7 miles southeast of Ely, Minnesota.”
The EA is available for your review at http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=40756” along with instructions for providing written comments.
Note: The USFS indicates that “no mining has been proposed in the South Kawishiwi area.” As one of our members, who reviewed the proposal pointed out, this activity may not have immediate effects on our water, but could have implications in the future if mining activity occurs.