The company behind the long-stalled and half-built iron ore mine and processing facility near Nashwauk failed to make a $200 million payment in a last-chance requirement set by the DNR.
In a lawsuit filed Friday, the company claims the DNR violated the terms by terminating the leases after the company missed deadlines and requirements.
Lourenco Goncalves, president and CEO of Cleveland-Cliffs, threatened to close Hibtac if state continues to give Mesabi Metallics leases instead of Cliffs.
Mesabi Metallics Co. LLC. has applied to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to reissue its air quality permit for the half-built iron ore mine and taconite processing center outside Nashwauk that has never operated.
