Across the western Lake region, residents spent the week digging out (again and again) from a three-day storm that dropped more than 30 inches of snow on parts of the Minnesota shore – and as much as 42 inches on one spotter’s property north of Two Harbors.
Schools were closed and many businesses (including Lake Superior Magazine) told employees to stay home. This writer spent the afternoon of the Wednesday snow day at the lakefront in Duluth, returning with video of the blinding snow, thunderous waves and windblown spray powered by 40-mph gusts.
This storm’s totals don’t quite measure up to the region’s record amounts – in Duluth, that distinction still belongs to the Halloween blizzard of 1991 and its 36.8 inches of snow – but the Dec. 2-4 event did crack the top 10.
+ Snow and 50-mph wind gusts forced school closures across the Upper Peninsula, too.
+ The Minnesota DNR says it’s “the best start to the winter recreation season since 2010.”
Environmental Assessment of PolyMet's Planned Copper-Nickel Mine Released for Public Review
John Myers, Duluth News Tribune:
A 2,169-page review of how PolyMet Mining Corp. plans to open Minnesota’s first copper mine and abide by all state and federal environmental laws went public Friday after years of behind-the-scenes drafting.
It’s open for public review and comment until March 13. Public meetings will be held next month in Aurora, Duluth and St. Paul.
Reports Elizabeth Dunbar for Minnesota Public Radio:
At least 200 years of water treatment would be needed at the PolyMet mine site and 500 years at the processing plant site, according to a long-awaited environmental assessment of the project released Friday.
+ The Mining Journal: “The Marquette City Planning Commission is on board with a local group's plan to keep Marquette officially recognized as a Bicycle Friendly Community.”
+ The city of Thunder Bay is one of Canada’s 10 safest cities in which to drive, reports the Chronicle-Journal.
+ According to the Lake Carriers’ Association, the Great Lakes iron ore trade was up 7 percent in November, year-over-year.
+ In the U.P., Ishpeming High’s football team won its second consecutive state championship over a favored Detroit Loyola team, reports the Mining Journal.