Posted at: 11/27/2009 7:43 PM

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Recall Letters Going Out at Hibbing Taconite

HIBBING, Minn. (AP) - Recall letters are going out to workers at Hibbing Taconite Co. in anticipation of a staged resumption of production.

Hibbing Taconite, Minnesota's second largest taconite producer, hasn't produced pellets since May. The recall letters started going out Tuesday.

Maureen Talarico, spokewoman for Cliffs Natural Resources Inc., tells the Duluth News Tribune it's good news for Hibbing and the region. Hibtac is owned by Mittal Steel USA but Cliffs manages the mine.

Frank Jenko, president of United Steelworkers Local 2705, says about 135 people remain on the job at Hibbing Taconite, mostly in maintenance. He says he expects all 540 union members there to be back to work by March, with full production by the end of April.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)