NEWS RELEASE

DRAFT EIS AVAILABLE -- 3 BAYS ON VERMILION

     St. Louis County has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for 3 Bays on Vermilion, a residential subdivision proposed by U.S. Steel Corporation (USS).  USS proposes a subdivision of up to 170 single family residential lots on approximately 1,400 acres of property on the south shore of Lake Vermilion in the Town of Breitung, approximately two miles east of the City of Tower.   

     Copies of the EIS have been distributed and are also available for review at the following locations during regular office hours:

St. Louis County Planning Department (Duluth Office), 100 Missabe Building, 227 West First Street, Duluth, MN  55802. Phone: (218) 725-5000

St. Louis County Planning Department (Virginia Office), Northland Office Center, East Wing, 307 South First Street, Virginia, MN  55792. Phone: (218) 749-7103

City of Tower, 602 Main Street, Tower, MN  55790. Phone: (218) 753-4070

Town of Breitung, P.O. Box 56, Soudan, MN   55782. Phone: (218) 753-6020

Duluth Public Library, 520 West Superior Street, Duluth, MN  55802

Virginia Public Library, 215 Fifth Avenue South, Virginia, MN  55792

The EIS will also be available on the St. Louis County website under Current Planning Projects at

     The EIS will be made available for public review for at least 30 calendar days beginning May 22, 2006.  St. Louis County Planning Commission will hold a special meeting for the purpose of considering public comment on the Draft EIS.  The public meeting will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 22, 2006 at the Biwabik City Hall, 321 Main Street, Biwabik, MN.  Verbal and written comments will be accepted at the public hearing.  Written comments will be accepted for 10 working days after the public meeting or until July 7, 2006.