WaterLegacy

06/17/2026

Minnesota has a dirty (and toxic) secret: 1,736 of our waterbodies are listed as IMPAIRED for mercury in water or fish tissue. Minnesota’s taconite plants produce more than half of the total mercury emissions in the state, and U.S. Steel Minntac is one of the largest sources. Comment today and tell MPCA to require U.S. Steel Minntac to cut mercury air emissions and stop poisoning Minnesota’s waters and fish:
https://waterlegacy.org/minntac-air-comment/

06/14/2026

As the federal government tears down protections for clean water and health, all of us depend on Minnesota’s state government to stand up to polluters. Tell the MPCA we need them to stand up to U.S. Steel and require Minntac to cut mercury air emissions: https://waterlegacy.org/minntac-air-comment/

(Bonus Fact: In 2023, the MPCA told U.S. Steel and the EPA that there were available and cost-effective technologies to reduce taconite mercury air emissions by 72%, as our rules require, and likely by 85%.)

06/12/2026

IMPORTANT READ from the Timberjay on the MPCA, mercury emissions, and Minntac:
"This isn’t a question of jobs versus the environment. U.S. Steel could afford to clean up its act and continue to operate. The company, however, would rather put the money it would cost to do so into the hands of shareholders. Those of us who live in the region are just supposed to accept more mercury in our fish.
When will state officials say enough is enough?"

Full text:

Here in Minnesota, we like to tell ourselves that we do a great job of protecting the environment. We pass strong laws and have good folks working at our regulatory agencies. It all seems reassuring. …

06/11/2026

ACTION ALERT: The Air Emissions Permit for U.S. Steel Minntac is up for renewal. Minntac is one of the biggest mercury sources in Minnesota. But the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) now proposes to give Minntac a permit that would require NO mercury reductions and NO monitoring to trace the effects of Minntac mercury deposition on Minnesota waters!

Tell MPCA to require Minntac to reduce mercury air emissions and STOP poisoning Minnesota water and fish:
https://waterlegacy.org/minntac-air-comment/

06/09/2026

Minnesota has NO experience with prospecting or producing gas. Yet, the Legislature has told our state agencies to set rules for gas exploration in a hurry and without any public process! Your comment is needed by TOMORROW, June 10 to request a hearing and ensure MDH gas rules are vetted in a public process so Minnesota’s water, health, and safety are protected. Comment today:
https://waterlegacy.org/mdh-gas-rules/

06/09/2026

Minnesota has NO experience with prospecting or producing gas. Yet, the Legislature has told our state agencies to set rules for gas exploration in a hurry and without any public process! Your comment is needed by TOMORROW, June 10 to request a hearing and ensure MDH gas rules are vetted in a public process so Minnesota’s water, health, and safety are protected. Comment today:
https://waterlegacy.org/mdh-gas-rules/

Minnesota-based nonprofit formed to protect Minnesota waters and the communities that rely on them.

06/05/2026

READ Timberjay coverage of the MPCA's draft air emissions permit for U.S. Steel Minntac, including community concerns about the lack of enforcement to reduce mercury emissions:
https://www.timberjay.com/stories/untitled,30748

From the article:
"Mercury emissions, which contribute to fish consumption advisories, particularly in northeastern Minnesota, have increasingly become a sore point with anglers and tribes. A state rule, designated as 7007.0502, mandates strict mercury emission reduction plans for existing industrial facilities, but the MPCA has shown a consistent inability to prompt the state’s taconite industry to get on board with the new requirements. [...] [WaterLegacy Executive Director Paula] Maccabee said the state has authority to act, with or without the EPA. In fact, she says, the state rules don’t appear to give the MPCA discretion on the matter. “The rules say the reductions must happen. It’s not a goal. This isn’t an area where the MPCA has discretion to let Minntac off the hook. The rule is clear. The need is clear. We’re just looking for safer fish to eat.””

REGIONAL — The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is seeking public comment through June 14 on a new draft air emissions permit for U.S. Steel’s Minntac taconite operation in Mt. Iron. Rave …

05/29/2026

READ retired miner Mike Maleska’s commentary in the Duluth News Tribune: "Gov. Walz needs to leave a positive legacy for people who love Minnesota's outdoors (fishing, hunting, ricing) and for the subsistence rights that our indigenous neighbors were promised and on which they rely."

From the column: "Like most people in the taconite industry, I was unaware while employed of the taconite tailings pollution issue or its enormity. It's fair to say many remain unaware."

05/20/2026

Using fish and water flea puppets, Andy Baldwin demonstrates the movement of mercury in the food web to 5th graders for a second year at the Itasca Youth Water Summit. Thank you Andy and thank you Itasca Waters for putting on such a great event!

05/08/2026

Read Aitkin County- "Land of 554-plus boreholes" by Susan Derby and Lynn Anderson. Tamarack area residents have been subjected to Talon Metals/Rio Tinto drilling, roads through wetlands, noise, and pollution for decades.

Aitkin County — ’The Land of 554-plus boreholes’