NorthMet Project Land Exchange - PolyMetpolymetmining.com/.../09/45451_PolyMet_LandExchangePamphlet_A… · Minnesota, including coniferous, deciduous and mixed coniferous and deciduous

PolyMet Mining

NorthMet Project Land Exchange

PolyMet Mining and the U.S. Forest Service have proposed a land exchange in the Mesabi Iron Range of Minnesota to consolidate their respective land ownerships. In this land exchange:

THE OVERVIEW

Administrative Land Exchange:

• The Forest Service will acquire 6,690 acres of private land in four separate tracts currently held by PolyMet, to become part of the Superior National Forest and managed under the laws relating to the National Forest System.

• United States will convey 6,650 acres of federally owned surface land to PolyMet, where PolyMet would then develop a copper-nickel mine.

THE TERMS VALUES

A MUTUALLY BENEFICIALLAND EXCHANGE

The U.S. Forest Service acquires 6,690 acres of land it identified as part of its growth goals. These will be managed as a part of the Superior National Forest for multiple uses including recreation, research and conservation.

1NorthMet Project Land Exchange, Final Record of Decision, Superior National Forest, January 9, 2017.

Lands exchanged are subject to appraisal. This exchange does not permit or approve the proposed mine.

The Forest Service obtains holdings within the Superior National Forest boundaries, which are currently in private ownership.

PolyMet receives the surface ownership of federal lands overlying its NorthMet mineral deposit, near an area heavily used for mining and mine infrastructure.

The Forest Service states in its Final Record of Decision on the NorthMet Environmental Impact Statement that the proposed exchange is in the public interest.

By law, the lands to be exchanged must be of equal value. If not equal, values can be equalized by a cash payment. To establish values prior to the exchange, lands are subject to appraisal using the well-established Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions published by the U.S. Department of Justice (commonly referred to as the Yellow Book).

Note: the land exchange does not permit or approve construction. Mine development and operations are subject to regulation and permits issued by the State of Minnesota and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

According to the Forest Service1, the exchange:

PolyMet Mining acquires 6,650 acres of surface land over the mineral deposit it already controls, in an established mining area on the Iron Range.

• Results in 505-acre net increase of wetlands to the federal estate

• Results in a 94-acre net gain of lakes with water frontage available for public and tribal use

• Results in a 40-acre net gain in National Forest System lands

• Improves the special arrangement of National Forest System lands by reducing the amount of ownership boundaries to be managed by 33 miles

• Improves management effectiveness by exchanging federal lands that have no public overland access

• Results in federal cost savings by eliminating two easements and their associated administrative costs

• Conveys federal lands already adjacent to intensively developed private lands including ferrous mining areas

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OVERBURDEN STORAGE& LAYDOWN AREA

CATEGORY 4 -REMOVED

CATEGORY 2/3 -REMOVED AND RECLAIMED

CATEGORY 1

ORE SURGE PILE

DUNKA ROAD

EXISTING RAILROAD

WEST PIT

EAST PIT

CENTRAL PIT

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GW014

GW013

GW012

GW011

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GW008

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MW-10D

MW-05-02

OB-2

OB-4

OB-3

OB-5

OB-1

OB-3A

P-2

P-3

P-4

P-1

P-4A

Partri

dge Rive

r

Wyman

Creek

Second

Creek

Unnamed Creek

Emba

rr ass River

Ridge Creek

Wetlegs

Creek

Longnose

Creek

Sprin

g

Mine Creek

Stubble Creek

Yelp Creek

Trimble

Creek

South Branch Partridge River

Mud

Lak

e C

reek

Heikkilla Creek

Unnamed Creek

Partr

idge

Riv

er

Spring Min

e Creek

Second Creek

South Branch Partridge River

T60 R13Sect. 31

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Sect. 8

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Sect. 10

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T60 R13Sect. 27

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T60 R13Sect. 29

T60 R13Sect. 26

T59 R15Sect. 12

T59 R13Sect. 21

T59 R14Sect. 6

T59 R15Sect. 24

T59 R15Sect. 1T59 R15

Sect. 2

T59 R12Sect. 7

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T59 R12Sect. 6

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T59 R13Sect. 28

T59 R13Sect. 26T59 R13

Sect. 30T59 R13Sect. 29

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T60 R15Sect. 34

T60 R15Sect. 27

MINE SITE,USFS EXCHANGE PARCEL,

AND PLANT SITE!. Existing Monitoring Wells!. Existing Groundwater Wells#V Bedrock Observation Well") Pumping Test Well

Land Exchange BoundaryPolyMet Surface Ownership Boundary

Year 20 Mine Plan

Stockpile FootprintsRemoved StockpileMine Pit FootprintsHaul Roads

Barr Footer: ArcGIS 10.1, 2013-04-30 16:07 File: I:\Client\PolyMet_Mining\Work_Orders\Agency_Preferred_Alternative\Maps\MISC\Client_Requests\2013_04_30_Posters\Tailings Basin_Plant Site and USFS Parcel.mxd User: arm2

I0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.80.1

Miles

Federal Land (Superior National Forest land to be conveyed to PolyMet)

The federal land (6,650 acres) is a contiguous tract of forested land located at the northern boundary of the Superior National Forest, approximately six miles south of Babbitt in St. Louis County.

MINE SITE, USFS EXCHANGE PARCEL, AND PLANT SITE

Existing Monitoring Wells Existing Groundwater Wells Bedrock Observation Well Pumping Test Well Land Exchange Boundary PolyMet Surface Ownership Boundary Year 20 Mine Plan Stockpile Footprints Removed Stockpile Mine Pit Footprints Haul Roads

The parcel has limited public access and is adjacent to existing private land with surface mining operations, tailings, basins, waste rock stockpiles, roads, railroad grades and other general mining facilities and infrastructure. The land is mostly timbered, has been clear-cut multiple times, and encompasses a small portion of the One Hundred Mile Swamp, a large black spruce, tamarack and cedar wetland, and also contains Mud Lake as well as some grassland and bushland. Yelp Creek and the Partridge River flow through the property. Wetlands comprise 4,164 acres of the tract.

Under PolyMet’s plans, more than half of the total acreage received by the company in the exchange will remain undisturbed as wildlife habitat. The remaining portion will be used for the mine and related activities. Of that, only about one quarter is wetlands.

PolyMet’s federal wetlands permit application provides that impacted wetlands will be offset at a ratio greater than what is disturbed in compliance with federal regulations. The wetlands permit is one of many state and federal permits to which the mine is subjected.

Tailings Basin

Plant Site

Mesabi NuggetFormer LTV Pits

Former LTV Pits

Cliff Northshore Mine

1

3

4

2

Area of Proposed Land Exchange

Private Land (PolyMet lands to be conveyed to the Superior National Forest)

The private land, (6,690 acres) comprises four separate tracts owned by PolyMet. The wetland and other environmental values of these private lands are generally equal to or greater than those of the federal land.

Except for some timber harvest, these private lands are generally undisturbed with native forest cover, are all located within a 90-mile radius of the project site, and are within the Superior National Forest boundaries.

Habitat and vegetative types are similar to others in the Mesabi Iron Range and northeastern Minnesota, including coniferous, deciduous and mixed coniferous and deciduous forests, and a variety of wetland habitats. Generally, the tracts are a mosaic of slightly elevated upland areas surrounded by wetland areas.

These tracts have conservation values in addition to providing excellent recreational access and timber management opportunities. They also provide greater public access than current federal lands and contain lakes with wild rice.

The Forest Service helped identify these parcels based on the goals of the Superior National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan.

LAND DESCRIPTORS

Tract 1 - Hay Lake Lands

Tract 3 - Wolf Lands 4

Tract 4 - Hunting Club Lands




Tract 2 - Lake County North Lands

Tract 2 - Lake County South Lands

Figure 3.3-1 Land Exchange Proposed Action Parcels

NorthMet Mining Project and Land Exchange PFEIS Minnesota

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

National Forest

Federal Lands

Non-federal Lands

1854 Coded Territory

HUNTING CLUB LANDSWOLF LANDSLAKE COUNTY LANDSHAY LAKE LANDS1 2 3 4

!!

135

368 301

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WynneLake

Embarrass Lake

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r iC

reek

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Pike River

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PIKE RIVER

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MINNESOTA HIGHWAY 135

MINNESOTA HIGHWAY 169

COUNTY ROAD 368

CO

UNTY138

Figure 4.3.2-1Surface Water

Tract 1 - Hay Lake LandsNorthMet Mining Project and Land Exchange PFEIS

MinnesotaJune 2015

µ0 0.65 1.30.325

Miles

Non-federal Lands! Wild Rice Location

Wild Rice LakeStream/River

Section Boundary

Section Label

Road

1

This document is a working document.This document may change over timeas a result of new information, furtherdeliberation, or other factors not yetknown to the Co-lead Agencies.

Parcel: Hay Lake Lands

Acres: 4,651.5

Location: West of Giants Ridge ski area near Biwabik in St. Louis County

Description:

Includes Hay Lake, Little Rice Lake and an unnamed lake.

Hay Lake is identified as wild rice water by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The largest tract of non-federal lands in the proposed exchange, this is designated as lynx critical habitat and contains heavily vegetated riparian and excellent fishery habitats.

About eight miles of the upper Pike River flow through the property. Hay and Rice lakes are accessible by canoe from the river. Wildlife is abundant in the area with wildlife survey evidence of moose, wolf, river otter, bear, pine marten, white-tailed deer, beaver and other wildlife.

HAY LAKE LANDS | 4,651.5 ACRES 1

WaterTankLake

Beaver River

Kit Creek

Eas

t Spl

itR

ock

Riv

er

3461 5

10

987

12

15

16

171813

2221201924

T 56N,R 9W

T 56N,R 10W

FINN R

OAD

KANE LAKE

KANELAKE

SPURG D

AVID

THO

MA

SRO

AD

TOIMI ROAD


Tract 2 - Lake County South LandsNorthMet Mining Project and Land Exchange PFEIS

MinnesotaJune 2015

µ0 0.25 0.50.125

Miles

Non-federal Lands!. Wild Rice Location


Section Boundary

Section Label

Road

1


Parcel: Lake County Lands

Acres: 319.5

Location: West and southwest of Isabella in Lake County

Description:

Four distinct parcels of largely wooded land containing sapling northern white cedar and black spruce with lesser amounts of tamarack. It contains a high percentage of wetland (74 percent), the most common of which is coniferous swamps. It is one of two of the non-federal parcels in the proposed exchange that has no rivers, streams, creeks or lakes.

This tract would supplement National Forest ownership by reducing federal exterior boundaries and eliminating several private in-holdings.

This land is within designated lynx critical habitat. It also is located in federal Wolf Zone 2 and Minnesota Northeast Wolf Zone. The tract contains signs of a variety of wildlife including moose, white-tailed deer, beaver, snowshoe hare, pileated woodpecker, mink and pine marten.

LAKE COUNTY LANDS | 319.5 ACRES 2

!

!

Nel

son

Cree

k

Breda Creek

Store

Creek

Mak

i Cre

ek

Toimi C

reek

Sout

hG

reen

wood Creek

NorthBranch Whiteface River

Litt

leM

udC

reek

30 29 2628 27252627

31 32

3334

35363534

6 5

4 32

2 13

10

1112 7 8

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1514

13 1817 141516

22 23 24 19 20232221

T 58N,R 11WT 58N,

R 12W

T 57N,R 11W

T 57N,R 12W

GREENWOOD CREEK

ZIB

URSKI ROAD

SEVEN BEAVER LAKE

PINE LAKE ROAD

Nels

on R

oad

PINE LAKE ACCESS

HJALM

ER LAKE

HJALMERLA

KE

SPUR

F


Tract 2 - Lake County North Lands and Tract 3 - Wolf Lands 1NorthMet Mining Project and Land Exchange PFEIS

MinnesotaJune 2015

µ0 0.5 10.25

Miles



Section Boundary

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Road

1


MudLake

Hay Lake

Pine Lake

Parcel: Wolf Lands

Acres: 1,559.4

Location: Within the Laurentian and Tofte Ranger Districts, west and southwest of Isabella and southeast of Pine Lake

Description:Wolf Lands comprises four individual parcels. Coyote Creek is the only surface water feature on the property and is a headwater stream that begins on the parcel and provides robust riparian habitat. All four parcels contain wetlands, bogs and forests. Of the total land, 88 percent is identified as wetlands, with 80 percent of these wetlands coniferous swamps and the remainder shrub. Black spruce, northern white cedar and tamarack are abundant. A relatively small portion of the land recently was logged under an existing timber harvest agreement that encumbers a small portion of the parcel. The logged area is dominated by grasses, forbs and low-growing shrub.

All four of the Wolf Lands tracts are within designated lynx critical habitat and are located in federal Wolf Zone 2 and Minnesota Northeast Wolf Zone. Signs of wolves and moose were found during wildlife surveys. The parcel provides habitat for a variety of wildlife including the black-backed woodpecker, American badger, sharp-tailed and spruce grouse, common snapping turtle and common loon.

WOLF LANDS | 1,559.4 ACRES 3

!

!.

Nel

son

Cree

k

Breda Creek

Store

Creek

Mak

i Cre

ek

Toimi C

reek

Sout

hG

reen

wood Creek

NorthBranch Whiteface River

Litt

leM

udC

reek

30 29 2628 27252627

31 32

3334

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6 5

4 32

2 13

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1514

13 1817 141516

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T 58N,R 11WT 58N,

R 12W

T 57N,R 11W

T 57N,R 12W

GREENWOOD CREEK

ZIB

URSKI ROAD

SEVEN BEAVER LAKE

PINE LAKE ROAD

Nels

on R

oad

PINE LAKE ACCESS

HJALM

ER LAKE

HJALMERLA

KE

SPUR

F


Tract 2 - Lake County North Lands and Tract 3 - Wolf Lands 1NorthMet Mining Project and Land Exchange PFEIS

MinnesotaJune 2015

µ0 0.5 10.25

Miles



Section Boundary

Section Label

Road

1


MudLake

!

!

Spur End Creek

Stony

River

Mary Ann Creek

Wenho

Creek

61235 46

71211

8 9107

1813141518 17 16

192423

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T 58N,R 9W

T 58N,R 10W

MUN SONG

SOU

RCE

LA

KE

GREENWOOD WINTER TRAIL


Tract 3 - Wolf Lands 2NorthMet Mining Project and Land Exchange PFEIS

MinnesotaJune 2015

µ0 0.35 0.70.175

Miles



Section Boundary

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Road

1


Osier Creek

Ston

y R

iver

Stoc

kade

Creek

Wilbur

Creek

Coy

ote

Cre

ek

2221

2019242322

27282930252627

3433

3231363534

3456

123

T 59N,R 9W

T 59N,R 10W

T 58N,R 9W

T 58N,R 10W

MCDOUGAL LAKE

MCDOUGAL LAKESP

UR

D

MC

DO

UG

AL LA

KE SPU

R B

SOU

TH STO

NY SPU

R J

SOU

THST

ON

Y

STO

NEY

RIV

ER G

RAD

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MinnesotaJune 2015

µ0 0.35 0.70.175

Miles



Section Boundary

Section Label

Road

1


!

!

!

Osier Creek

Sto

nyR

i ve r

Coyote Creek

1098712

10

11

54 3612

3

15

16171813

1415

22212019

242322

2728

T 59N,R 9W

T 59N,R 10W

TOM

WET

ZEL

ROAD

MCDOUGALLA

KE

MIDDLE ROAD

SOUT

H ST

ONY

MCD

OUG

ALLA

KERO

AD

MC

DO

UG

AL LA

KE SPU

R B

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NEY

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ER G

RAD

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STONY LOOKOUT



MinnesotaJune 2015

µ0 0.35 0.70.175

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Section Boundary

Section Label

Road

1


!

Cam

pFo

rtyCreek

Pick

et C

reek

33

2

16 5

4

11 12 7

8

9 11 1210

14 13 18 1716 13

1415

2324 19

20

21

23 2422

2625

30

29

28 27 26 25

34 3635

3 12

T 67N,R 17W

T 66N,R 18W

T 66N,R 17W

TAFT SPUR ABC

KABU

ST

ASA

KABUSTASA S

PUR G

PVT6700

ECHO RAPIDS SPUR A

KABU

STAS

ASP

UR D

TAFT SPUR AC

TAFT SPUR B

HIGH

WAY

24

SPECK LAKE

SFR

352

SPUR

ECHO LAKE SPUR B

SISU

KABUSTASA SPUR AA

ECH

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APIDS SPUR

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OTR

AIL

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TAFT

SPU

RC

VERMILION RIVER ENTRY RD

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TAFT SPURAD

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PUR

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UNDM

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SPUR

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VERMIGRADE SPUR DAA

TAFT

TAFT

SPUR A

BB

TAFT

SPU

RA

DA

DIPPIE

KABUSTASA SPUR F

TAFT SPUR AB

N KABUSTASA


Tract 4 - Hunting Club LandsNorthMet Mining Project and Land Exchange PFEIS

MinnesotaJune 2015

µ0 0.5 10.25

Miles



Section Boundary

Section Label

Road

1


Parcel: Hunting Club Lands

Acres: 160

Location: Five miles southwest of Crane Lake in northwestern St. Louis County

Description:

A single parcel, approximately 40 percent of the tract is high-ecological-value wetland habitat featuring alder thickets, shallow marshes and coniferous swamps dominated by beaver ponds.

White-tailed deer, red fox, pine marten, snowshoe hare, red squirrel, pileated woodpecker and several songbird species make their homes here. The tract is located in federal Wolf Zone 2 and Minnesota Northeast Wolf Zone and is designated lynx critical habitat.

HUNTING CLUB LANDS | 160 ACRES 4

Echo Lake

Pine Lake

Greenwood Lake

Source Lake

McDougal Lakes

Vermillion River

The different ownership of the surface and subsurface rights is known as a “split estate” which hinders management options for both owners, and which have frequently resulted in litigation. The proposed land exchange eliminates this conflict.

The Forest Service will obtain lands of equal or greater value. Furthermore, PolyMet’s mining plans are consistent with regional land uses and will generate economic

benefits to the area through employment and tax revenues.

All of the lands proposed for exchange are located within the 1854 Ceded Territory of northeastern Minnesota and, as stated in the Forest Service draft Record of Decision, “the land exchange results in a net gain in acreage to the 1854 Ceded Territory and increased access to those lands.”

The federal land proposed for the exchange has been harvested for timber and is adjacent to an area that is already heavily mined. The federal government acquired these lands in the 1930s, but did not acquire the underlying mineral rights, which are now controlled by PolyMet.

LAND MANAGEMENT BENEFITS

• 505-acre net increase of wetlands to the federal estate

• 94-acre net gain of lakes with water frontage available for public and tribal use

• 40-acre net gain in National Forest System lands

• Reduces the amount of ownership boundaries to be managed by the Forest Service by 33 miles, simplifying management of these lands

• Improves management effectiveness by exchanging federal lands that have no public overland access

• Results in federal cost savings by eliminating two easements and their associated administrative costs

• Conveys federal lands adjacent to intensively developed private lands including iron mining areas

BENEFITS TO THE PUBLIC OF THE LAND EXCHANGE:

Documents

NorthMet Project Land Exchange - PolyMetpolymetmining.com/.../09/45451_PolyMet_LandExchangePamphlet_A… · Minnesota, including coniferous, deciduous and mixed coniferous and deciduous