6
The Dam Safety Permit Amendment process began on
July 24, 2019 with a trip to Saint Paul, MN by a group
from Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. to meet with the Minnesota
State Dam Safety Engineers Office. During the meeting,
Cleveland-Cliffs explained the recommendations of the
Technical Review Board to proceed with Alternative C—
Downstream Improvements and to begin discussion on the
dam safety permit amendment process. In September 2022,
Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. was recognized by the Association of
State Dam Safety Officials Midwest Regional Award. One
of the main reasons for the nomination by the Minnesota
and Michigan State Dam Safety Engineers was the trans-
parency that Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. has shown in its com-
munications with the dam safety regulators over the years.
In 2019, Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. was on the leading edge in
discussions with dam safety regulators regarding the para-
digm shift that the tailings industry was tackling. Figure 4
below shows a graphic used in the presentation to the State
Dam Safety Engineer on July 24, 2019 to explain why the
determination of undrained shear strength ratio for lique-
faction of tailings was going to take time. Furthermore, the
Cleveland-Cliffs team explained why conservative assump-
tions to be used in dam design by the Engineer of Record
would be sufficient to begin construction before the revised
Table 2. Hibbing Taconite Company Tailings Facility—
Downstream Improvements Permitting Requirements
Permit Name
Regulatory Agencies
Involved
WCA Wetland Replacement
Plan Application
Minnesota Department
of Natural Resources—
Division of Lands and
Minerals (for projects under
a permit to mine)
United States Army Corps
of Engineers
(Administration of federal
clean water act)
Minnesota Pollution
Control Agency—401
Water Quality Certification.
Dam Safety Permit Amendment Minnesota Department of
Natural Resources—State
Dam Safety Engineer
Permit to Mine Amendment Minnesota Department
of Natural Resources—
Division of Lands and
Minerals
Figure 4. Hibbing Taconite Company Tailings Facility prior to downstream improvements
The Dam Safety Permit Amendment process began on
July 24, 2019 with a trip to Saint Paul, MN by a group
from Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. to meet with the Minnesota
State Dam Safety Engineers Office. During the meeting,
Cleveland-Cliffs explained the recommendations of the
Technical Review Board to proceed with Alternative C—
Downstream Improvements and to begin discussion on the
dam safety permit amendment process. In September 2022,
Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. was recognized by the Association of
State Dam Safety Officials Midwest Regional Award. One
of the main reasons for the nomination by the Minnesota
and Michigan State Dam Safety Engineers was the trans-
parency that Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. has shown in its com-
munications with the dam safety regulators over the years.
In 2019, Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. was on the leading edge in
discussions with dam safety regulators regarding the para-
digm shift that the tailings industry was tackling. Figure 4
below shows a graphic used in the presentation to the State
Dam Safety Engineer on July 24, 2019 to explain why the
determination of undrained shear strength ratio for lique-
faction of tailings was going to take time. Furthermore, the
Cleveland-Cliffs team explained why conservative assump-
tions to be used in dam design by the Engineer of Record
would be sufficient to begin construction before the revised
Table 2. Hibbing Taconite Company Tailings Facility—
Downstream Improvements Permitting Requirements
Permit Name
Regulatory Agencies
Involved
WCA Wetland Replacement
Plan Application
Minnesota Department
of Natural Resources—
Division of Lands and
Minerals (for projects under
a permit to mine)
United States Army Corps
of Engineers
(Administration of federal
clean water act)
Minnesota Pollution
Control Agency—401
Water Quality Certification.
Dam Safety Permit Amendment Minnesota Department of
Natural Resources—State
Dam Safety Engineer
Permit to Mine Amendment Minnesota Department
of Natural Resources—
Division of Lands and
Minerals
Figure 4. Hibbing Taconite Company Tailings Facility prior to downstream improvements