TAMARACK — The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is seeking public comments on the scoping documents for a state Environmental Impact Statement for the Tamarack Mining Project in Aitkin County.
The EIS will describe project details, identify environmental impacts and consider mitigation and alternatives that might lessen the environmental impacts of a proposed underground mine near Tamarack.
The scoping documents provide information about the topics that are proposed to be included in the state EIS for the proposed project. Neither the scoping documents nor the ultimate EIS are decision-making documents regarding whether the project may proceed to construction and operation. Rather, they are information-gathering documents meant to inform any future permits or approvals the project may need.
Talon Nickel USA LLC is proposing to construct and operate an underground mine near Tamarack to extract ore containing nickel, copper and other metals that would be shipped by rail to processing facilities located in Mercer County, North Dakota, and Marquette County, Michigan. The long-term surface facilities at the proposed Minnesota project site would cover approximately 64 acres and include an ore-handling building with rail loadout, a wastewater treatment plant, stormwater ponds, ventilation points, a rail yard, an electrical substation, storage and staging areas, an outdoor stockpile of locally sourced aggregate for backfill, parking and a rail spur. Tailings would not be generated in Minnesota, and no tailings storage would occur in Minnesota.
The scoping documents were published in the July 14 edition of the
(
). The DNR invites public comments on those documents until 4:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14. Public meetings will take place 5-9 p.m. Aug. 5 in McGregor and 5-9 p.m. Aug. 12 in Blaine. Each public meeting will have an open house beginning at 5 p.m. where attendees can learn more about the project, ask questions, and submit written comments. At 6 p.m., attendees will be invited to view an informational presentation, followed at 6:30 p.m. by the opportunity to provide verbal comments. To accommodate as many people seeking to make verbal comments as possible, individuals will be selected randomly and be limited to 3 minutes.
The EIS scoping documents include a Scoping Environmental Assessment Worksheet, which identifies the project’s potentially significant impacts that warrant detailed analysis for public consideration, and a Draft Scoping Decision Document, which outlines what will be required in the EIS and proposes alternatives, necessary studies and additional data needs. Copies of the scoping worksheet and scoping decision document are available on the
Tamarack Mining Project webpage
at
mndnr.gov/input/environmentalreview/tamarack-nickel-project.html
, which also contains factsheets and information about the status of the project.
People can request a hard copy of the worksheet and document by calling 651-259-5677. It is also available for public review at these libraries:
The DNR will accept comments until 4:30 p.m. Sept. 14. People can submit comments on the worksheet and draft scoping document by:
Anyone providing a mailing address or submitting online comments will receive a copy of the subsequent decision document, which will include responses to comments. Because all comments and related information are part of the public record for this environmental review, commenters’ names and email or postal addresses will be publicly available as they appear in the materials commenters submit.
The DNR invites interested people to attend one of two public information meetings:
Aug. 5:
McGregor High School, 148 S. Second St., McGregor
Open house, 5-9 p.m.
Project presentation and public commenting, 6-9 p.m.
Aug. 12:
National Sports Center, 1750 105th Ave. NE, Blaine, MN 55449
Open house, 5-9 p.m.
Project presentation and public commenting, 6-9 p.m.
Comments received at these meetings, through mail and the commenting webpage will inform the EIS scoping process. People do not need to attend a meeting to provide comment.
Individuals with a disability who need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, please contact the DNR at
or 651-259-5677 by July 22, 2026. Calls from Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) users are welcome.
The DNR will respond to comments when it issues a Final Scoping Decision document. The document determines what will be included in the state EIS. The most helpful comments are those that directly address the content of the scoping documents and offer specific suggestions for inclusion in the scope of the state EIS.
The DNR will then prepare a draft EIS that will be made available for public comment. Another public information meeting will be held during that comment period.
People
at
public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MNDNR/subscriber/new?topic_id=MNDNR_366
to receive email updates on the environmental review process for the proposed project.
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