For more information contact:
Clyde Hanson, Sierra Club, 612-418-1192 or 218-387-9081
Le Lind, Save Lake Superior Association, 218-834-6137
Citizens to Enforce Clean Air Act to Protect Public Health in Silver Bay Area
Minneapolis — Today two environmental groups gave Northshore Mining Company, a subsidiary of Cleveland-Cliffs, the required 60-day notice of their planned legal action to stop Northshore from violating the airborne asbestos fiber limit in its permit at Northshore's taconite production and disposal facilities in Silver Bay.
The type of mineral fibers in the air from Northshore has been shown to pose a health risk to humans. Recently the Minnesota Department of Health disclosed that mesothelioma, a painful disease of the lung lining caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers, is increasing on the Iron Range. The disease can take decades to develop. Because no safe level of exposure to asbestos and asbestos-like fibers has been established, the reduction of fiber levels in the air is an important public health objective.
Northshore's air pollution permit prohibits Silver Bay fibers levels from being any greater than fiber levels in the air of St. Paul. According to Northshore and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency data, the average level of fibers at Northshore's two air monitors in the Silver Bay area is approximately three times higher than fiber levels in St. Paul.
Those who live in or visit Silver Bay area breathe these fibers. One of the fiber monitors is located northwest of the Northshore plant in Silver Bay, the other is positioned outside of the Beaver Bay community.
“If we can bring fiber levels into compliance and prevent even one person from getting sick this action will be worthwhile,” said Clyde Hanson, Co-Chair of the Sierra Club Mining Without Harm Campaign. “Don’t folks in Silver Bay deserve air that’s at least as clean as the air in St. Paul?” asked Hanson.
“More than thirty years ago the federal courts required Northshore to limit fibers to St. Paul levels. Save Lake Superior Association was a party in that case. Today we are following up on our long-standing commitment to protect the health of Northshore communities by enforcing the St. Paul standard,” said Le Lind, an officer of the Save Lake Superior Association.
Northshore's Silver Bay plant was the focus of a federal lawsuit in the 1970s against Reserve Mining that resulted in the prohibition of tailings discharges directly into Lake Superior and the regulation of fibers to no more than St. Paul levels.