Public comments sought on proposed injection well to check iron-manganese ore mining option

Crow Wing County residents are invited to comment on a plan to test the feasibility of injecting water underground to mine iron-manganese ore.

Comments are sought through July 2.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Region 5 is seeking the response from residents for a proposed permit for a waste injection well.

The EPA has proposed issuing an injection well permit to Cooperative Mineral Resources of Brainerd and is taking public comments before making a final decision on the permit. Cooperative Mineral Resources is a subsidiary of Crow Wing Power created for the manganese project.

Details of the plan are posted online at www.epa.gov/r5water/uic/uicpub.htm and there is also a record at the Outing Volunteer Library, 6300 Woods Bay Drive N.E., Outing.

The EPA reports the permit is to construct and operate an injection well in Section 21 of the county and is limited to an iron-manganese formation between 180 and 400 feet below the surface.

Section 21 is in Emily and the undeveloped property designated for the possible drilling is just west of Highway 6 and about seven miles north of County Road 1. As there are private drinking wells within a half mile, the EPA reported the underground injection activity shall not allow the movement of fluid containing any contaminant into underground sources of drinking water.

The permit expires after one year unless a written request for an extension is approved.

Last year, Crow Wing Power reported if the demonstration works, commercial extraction could start in about two years and the project is estimated to bring in $20 million to $25 million in tax revenue.

Comments may be directed to Leslie Patterson, permit writer, Underground Injection Control Branch, EPA Region 5 (WU-16J), 77 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60604-3590, or via e-mail to patterson.leslie@epa.gov.