MINNEAPOLIS — One of the most contentious issues in the debate over whether Minnesota should allow PolyMet Mining Corp. to build the state’s first copper-nickel mine is whether the company can cover cleanup costs after it closes.

PolyMet says it can. But critics of the project say the record of mining companies elsewhere is replete with bankruptcies and environmental disasters that have left taxpayers on the hook for tens of billions of dollars.

A Minnesota House committee will look Tuesday at whether the financial assurance package can be structured to protect taxpayers now and potentially centuries into the future. Legislative staffers have a long list of tough questions that Department of Natural Resources officials will be asked to address. PolyMet officials and critics all plan to testify, and the hearing will be streamed live on the House website.

“The discussion about financial assurance really belongs to all Minnesotans because if any decisions are made that don’t work out as intended, then Minnesotans will pay for the mistakes,” said Rep. Jean Wagenius, DFL-Minneapolis, chairwoman of the panel.

“The challenge here is can a mining operation put enough money on the table to take care of any problems and still be profitable?” she said.