Polymet Mining Corp (PLM)

[Galingale]

I wrote to the Forest Service in June, seeking an update on the land swap. To my surprise, a senior official replied almost immediately and gave a very helpful explanation of the process. The 'Objections Submittal' phase closed in January and garnered 22,000 objections. The Regional Office in Milwaukee reviewed those objections, which the Reviewing Officer summarized and passed to the SNF with instructions for (quote) 'addressing objections and to move forward in issuing the final ROD'. As correctly predicted, the review was passed to the SNF in July. The official opined that the final ROD 'could be issued in the fall', depending on the complexity and number of instructions emanating from the review. I was invited to continue to contact the Forest Service with any further questions and this I duly did on two occasions but, surprisingly bearing in mind the invitation, without the courtesy of a reply. This tends me towards thinking that someone has, or some people have, censured the helpful official. I would not have thought we are dealing with state secrets here, neither is it commercial-in-confidence to my mind! Frankly, the length of time to date, with the attaching deafening silence, brings no credit to the SNF.