St. Paul, Minn. (August 6, 2019) – Jobs for Minnesotans released the following response to the Minnesota Court of Appeals decision to stay a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System/State Disposal System(NPDES/SDS) permit to PolyMet Mining Inc. for its NorthMet copper-nickel mine project:

“We hope the court’s review is both swift and thorough, in order to lift any cloud from the permit and expedite the start of construction of PolyMet’s copper nickel mine, a $1 billion project which will result in the creation of 360 mining jobs. The stay was granted pending review of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) procedures in granting the permit last year.

“While Jobs for Minnesotans has confidence in the underlying technical soundness and public benefit of the PolyMet proposal, we also support the constitutional right of all citizens to seek recourse through the courts to object to agency decisions such as granting water permits. “In this case the MPCA responded promptly to concerns of Environmental Protection Agency staff members by making numerous changes – where necessary – clarifying terms of PolyMet’s final water permit.”   

About Jobs for Minnesotans

Jobs for Minnesotans, a coalition representing business, labor and communities, supports statewide opportunities for prosperity and middle-class jobs from sustainable natural resource development in Minnesota. The organization is committed to the principle that our state can preserve both job opportunities and the environment for future generations. Jobs for Minnesotans was co-founded in 2012 by the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council representing 55,000 workers and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce representing 2,300 companies and 500,000 employees. For more information, visit jobsforminnesotans.org, follow @JobsforMN on Twitter and find the coalition on Facebook.com/Jobs4MN.

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Media Contact: Nancy Norr, Chair
nnorr@mnpower.com
Cell: 218.590.6978