A review of a mining project in northern Minnesota has revived debate about the effects of development on wild rice.

The state adopted a water quality standard regarding the discharge of sulfates. But tribes say the state has never enforced the standard, to the detriment of wild rice.

"These projects tend to have really high sulfate discharges," Nancy Schuldt, water project coordinator for the Fond du Lac Band of LakeSuperior Chippewa, told The Minneapolis Star Tribune. "Where it used to exist, it's gone now, possibly because of changes in water quality from existing mines."

The state is conducting a second review of the Polymet copper-nickel mine in light of concerns about the water standard.

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Mining debate flows into the wild rice stands (The Minneapolis Star Tribune 12/6)