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This Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) describes the transportation and environmental impacts associated with the termination of easement rights for a one and a half mile segment of the US 53 corridor where it crosses the United Taconite open-pit mine between Virginia and Eveleth, Minnesota. On May 5, 2010, United Taconite (UTAC) and RGGS provided notice to the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) that the 1960 easement rights would be terminated. Under the original easement terms, MnDOT must vacate the US 53 easement within three years of notification. In response to the notice, MnDOT requested a seven-year timeframe for relocation of US 53. The two parties have signed an agreement to modify the easement vacation date to May 2017. MnDOT is conducting this project process to make decisions on how to best address the pending termination of easement rights.

The US Highway 53 Virginia to Eveleth Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) published in December 2014 described the transportation and environmental impacts associated with the termination of easement rights for a one and a half mile segment of the US 53 corridor where it crosses the United Taconite open-pit mine between Virginia and Eveleth, Minnesota. On May 5, 2010, United Taconite (UTAC) and RGGS provided notice to the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) that the 1960 easement rights would be terminated. Under the original easement terms, MnDOT must vacate the US 53 easement within three years of notification. In response to the notice, MnDOT requested a seven-year timeframe for relocation of US 53. The two parties have signed an agreement to modify the easement vacation date to May 2017.