Newrange Embarks On Project-wide Studies To Further Enhance Environmental Safeguards And Project Performance

NewRange Copper Nickel today announced that over the next year it is embarking on four key studies to assess whether new mining technology and sustainability developments can further enhance environmental safeguards and mining performance for our NorthMet project.

NewRange brings a new team whose global expertise on tailings storage, water science, efficient production and carbon reduction will ensure the project remains on the cutting edge, so that Minnesotans and the nation can benefit from responsible clean energy mineral resource development.

“MiningMinnesota supports the NorthMet project because we know the team is committed to responsibly developing a project that will not only provide needed minerals for the clean energy transition, but that will also protect our cherished northern Minnesota natural resources and strengthen our local communities," said MiningMinnesota about NewRange Copper Nickel NorthMet Studies.

The studies position NewRange, one of the world’s largest undeveloped deposits of copper and nickel, to meaningfully support the United States’ clean energy transition and compete in the global economy by creating a domestic supply chain of multiple clean energy minerals – while limiting new environmental impacts and cleaning up former mine sites.

“As momentum continues to sustainably develop NewRange, we are sharing our plans before studies are complete, because transparency and engagement with Tribal Nations, local communities and other stakeholders are foundational to the review process and contributes to development of a world class mine on Minnesota’s Iron Range,” said Tannice McCoy, NewRange President and General Manager.

Current plans are designed to meet all permitting requirements. Proposed changes may be subject to supplemental environmental review and permitting and will include multiple opportunities for public comment and feedback. NewRange is committed to moving forward as an engaged community partner – with a project that meets environmental performance and sustainable mine design standards that cleans up and preserves our rivers and lakes and safeguards water quality for generations to come.

“We should all be supportive of any effort that could potentially make a solid project even better," said MiningMinnesota. "Today’s announcement confirms NewRange Copper Nickel’s investment in the project, the environment, and the region and we look forward to learning more as their work advances. The U.S. and Minnesota have an obligation to responsibly and domestically source minerals to meet their own needs. NewRange Copper Nickel holds the potential to be a significant contributor to our nation’s clean energy future.”

NewRange is studying a variety of tailings storage options that will minimize impact by reusing the former LTV iron ore tailings facility and clean up impacts from previous iron mining operations, leaving the region in better condition than it is today. Options include keeping the current design detailed in permits, potentially refining the current design to use a centerline dam design, or possibly relocating tailings storage to nearby unused mining pits.

A comprehensive network of water monitoring locations will provide the baseline data to help ensure that NewRange meets or exceeds state, federal and tribal standards before, during and after operations.

NewRange is reviewing planned water treatment technologies, which already meet all applicable water quality standards. This review allows our team of water experts to evaluate new opportunities to address water quality and management challenges from historic and proposed new mining operations, protect the local environment, and safeguard water quality for generations to come.

“Our groundbreaking water treatment and management plan already has in place more water and wetland monitoring than all other Minnesota mines combined, and we will invest over $100 million to modernize the previous mining site to meet or exceed stringent water discharge standards,” said McCoy. “In fact, NewRange will be the first industrial project to meet the state’s long-standing ‘wild rice standard’ for sulfate discharge limits. Currently, we know of no other business that has achieved this standard.”

NewRange is studying how to utilize the existing footprint to modestly increase production from 32,000 tons per day to 40,000 tons per day to deliver an increased domestic supply of high demand copper, nickel and cobalt, while reducing project emissions.

“We’re studying how to build a more efficient mine – not a larger one. With new equipment developments, increased production may decrease the energy intensity of clean energy metals produced. We hope this study identifies a win-win: using less energy to deliver copper, nickel and cobalt when a secure domestic supply of critical minerals is most needed,” said McCoy.

There would be no change to the project’s 225 million total tonnage of minerals currently permitted for mining and processing. However, if feasible, increased daily production could shorten the mine plan from 20 years to 15 years.

NewRange also is studying how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) project-wide in the near- and longterm.

“Current plans call for the reuse of existing railroad infrastructure to move ore for processing by diesel locomotive. While rail is generally efficient, we are exploring electric ore transport methods, like greater use of conveyors, to further reduce emissions,” said McCoy.

“We are also studying whether an opportunity exists for NewRange to have a net negative carbon footprint, thanks in part to the unique geologic characteristics of its rock formation. NewRange is exploring various techniques to sequester carbon in the mine tailings,” she said.

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