Talon Metals Progresses State Environmental Review Process for Proposed Underground Nickel Mine near Tamarack, Minnesota Amended Environmental Assessment Worksheet Submitted, Johnson to Lead External Affairs Team
Talon Metals Progresses State Environmental
Review Process for Proposed Underground
Nickel Mine near Tamarack, Minnesota
Amended Environmental Assessment Worksheet Submitted,
Johnson to Lead External Affairs Team
Tamarack, Minnesota--(Newsfile Corp. - December 19, 2024) -
Talon Metals Corp. (TSX: TLO) (OTC
Pink: TLOFF) through its subsidiary Talon Nickel (USA) LLC (
"Talon"
or the
"Company"
), submitted
an amended Environmental Assessment Worksheet ("
EAW
") to the Minnesota Department of Natural
Resources for the State's Environmental Impact Statement scoping process for the Tamarack Nickel-
Copper Project, a proposed small-footprint, high-grade underground nickel mine that would be located
near the City of Tamarack in Aitkin County, Minnesota (the "
Tamarack Mining Project
").
Talon first began the review process in June 2023 (
see the Company's press release dated June 21,
2023
). Since that time, the proposed Tamarack Mining Project has gone through two rounds of
comments with the Minnesota regulatory agencies and participating tribal governments/organizations.
After receiving the second round of comments on the EAW in February 2024, Talon has taken steps to
investigate and propose engineered solutions to potential concerns. While this process has taken
several months, the responsive engineering work underscores the Company's commitment to
incorporating meaningful improvements that not only address technical requirements but also respond to
broader stakeholder interests and concerns.
The amended EAW covers several key conceptual aspects of the Project for scoping.
Consolidation of operations into a single enclosed building
This proposed change:
Eliminates outdoor waste rock stockpiles, significantly reducing the risk of fugitive dust outside of a
controlled environment.
Simplifies stormwater management by removing the need for extensive systems to handle outdoor
contact stormwater from the Tamarack Mine Project.
Reduces the developed footprint, which is now over 10 acres smaller than in the original design,
reflecting the Company's focus on minimizing environmental impacts while maintaining operational
goals.
Significantly diminishes nighttime light pollution preserving the natural dark-sky quality of the area.
Reduces the sound generated by future operations further limiting the project's sensory impact on
the surrounding environment and community as the building serves as an effective noise barrier.
Further proposed enhancements
Transitioning from a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) method that would require a looped tunnel, to a
single decline ramp. This proposed change will decrease the volume of development rock
generated and reduce material handling demands.
Shifting from manifest trains to unit trains to optimize rail transportation, reducing the frequency of
shipments from the site (a single unit train equates to approximately three manifest trains).
"These proposed updates reflect Talon's ongoing commitment to listening and responding to
feedback, ensuring that the Tamarack Mine Project evolves in a manner that addresses both
technical requirements and the expectations of those invested in the project's success. By prioritizing
environment protection, operational sustainability, and community well-being, this amended EAW
underscores Talon's dedication to advancing the project responsibly,"
said Chris Wallace, Vice
President of Environmental and Permitting for Talon.
Jessica Johnson, Talon's Vice President, External Affairs also stated,
"Talon is excited to continue the
environmental review process, where the project design will go through further evaluation. Soon the
process will encourage formal public participation through providing comments on the proposed
project. These comments can further shape and refine the project design."
Information about the Environmental Review process is available on the Minnesota Department of
Natural Resources website:
Home | Minnesota DNR (state.mn.us)
JESSICA JOHNSON TO LEAD EXTERNAL AFFAIRS TEAM
Jessica Johnson has been promoted to Vice President, External Affairs assuming all responsibilities for
all external Company engagement (media, communities and government relations).
Johnson has been
with Talon since 2019 and has held successive roles of responsibility in external engagement for the
Company.
Johnson takes over leadership of the external affairs functions from Todd Malan who is
transitioning to an advisory role for the Company.
Malan joined Talon in September 2021 from Rio Tinto
and worked closely with Johnson to build up the external and internal capabilities, resulting in
extraordinary federal government support for Talon's projects in Minnesota, Michigan and North Dakota.
Cody Mayer has been promoted to Director, Tribal and Community Engagement and will report to
Johnson.
He will be based at Talon's mineral exploration operations in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
but support tribal engagement across Talon's operations.
Johnson lives proximate to the Tamarack
Nickel Project and was born and raised in northern Minnesota.
Mayer was born and raised in the Upper
Peninsula of Michigan and is an enrolled member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, a
tribal sovereign government in the region.
ABOUT TALON
Talon is a TSX-listed base metals company in a joint venture with
Rio Tinto
on the high-grade
Tamarack
Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Project
located in central Minnesota. Talon's shares are also traded in the U.S.
over the OTC market under the symbol TLOFF. The Tamarack Nickel Project comprises a large land
position (18km of strike length) with additional high-grade intercepts
outside the current resource area
.
Talon has an earn-in right to acquire up to 60% of the Tamarack Nickel Project, and currently owns 51%.
Talon is focused on (i) expanding and infilling its current high-grade nickel mineralization resource
prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 to shape a mine plan for submission to Minnesota regulators,
and (ii) following up on additional high-grade nickel mineralization in the Tamarack Intrusive Complex.
Talon has a
neutrality and workforce development agreement
in place with the United Steelworkers
union. Talon's Battery Mineral Processing Facility in Mercer County was
selected by the U.S.
Department of Energy
for US$114.8 million funding grant from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the
U.S. Department of Defense awarded Talon a grant of U.S. $20.6 million
to support and accelerate
Talon's exploration efforts in both Minnesota and Michigan. Talon has well-qualified experienced
exploration, mine development, external affairs and mine permitting teams.
For additional information on Talon, please visit the Company's website at
www.talonmetals.com
or
contact:
Mike Kicis
1 (647) 968-0060
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements
of historical fact that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or
anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking
statements reflect the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently
available to the Company. Such forward-looking statements include statements relating to the
consolidation of operations into a single enclosed building; the size of the above ground mine operation
campus; the use of single decline ramp; using manifest trains; the project design; the timing and
outcome of the environmental review process, including the EIS. Forward-looking statements are subject
to significant risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual results to differ
materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, and even if such actual results are
realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected
consequences to, or effects on the Company which risks includes (and is not limited to) the Company's
ability to secure all necessary permits relating to the proposed operations.
Other risks related to the
Company and the Tamarack Mining Project are set out in the Company's financial statements and
Annual Information Form.
Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be
required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any
forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.
Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are
reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue
reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit
https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/234508