Magnetation May Start Operations This Summer

The iron ore mining operations at Magnetation could restart this summer, according to new owner Tom Clarke. The Grand Rapids, Minn., Plant No. 4 has been idle for more than a year and requires about $2 million to get equipment up to speed.

ERP Iron Ore purchased Magnetation out of bankruptcy a year ago, but start-up was delayed by Environmental Protection Agency violations. Before production can resume, the plant requires installation of pollution control equipment to bring it to permit standards. Clarke said he wasn’t aware of the extent of the problem when buying the plant—14 of 18 potential emission sites are in EPA violation. Clarke said that had he known, he would still have acquired the assets, “I just wouldn’t have paid as much.”