Minot pig iron permit public comment period opens

The North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality has opened a public comment period on a new heavy industry proposed northeast of Minot. 

North American Iron is proposing to transport mine waste from Minnesota to Minot where it can be refined into small iron pellets known as pig iron, which then can be used to make steel.

The department says its preliminary evaluations show that the pig iron plant will comply with air pollution rules and air quality will not be harmed. 

Proposed North Dakota pig iron plant to turn Minnesota mine waste into steel, a first for US 

North American Iron’s construction permit application and the Department of Environmental Quality’s proposed permit documents are available for review at http://deq.nd.gov/AQ/PublicCom.aspx.

Comments can be emailed to [email protected] or mailed to North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Air Quality, 4201 Normandy St., 2nd Floor, Bismarck, ND 58503-1324.

The comment period closes Nov. 20.

The department also has scheduled a public hearing if it determines that there is enough interest. The hearing is planned for 5:30 p.m. Dec. 2 at Minot City Hall.

If the department does not receive a formal request for a public hearing during the comment period, or if it determines that there is not a significant degree of public interest, the department may cancel the hearing. 

North American Iron plans to develop a 2,400-acre site northeast of Minot. A related company, Calumet Reclamation Co., would provide the iron-rich mine waste from a site in northern Minnesota.  

One potential source of greenhouse gas emissions from the facility would be from burning natural gas. 

Jim Bougalis, CEO and founder of North American Iron, has said a 300-megawatt natural gas-fired power generation facility will be built at the site.

Reach North Dakota Monitor deputy editor Jeff Beach at [email protected]