St. Paul, Minn. (July 18, 2019) – Jobs for Minnesotans released the following statement in response to today’s announcement that Twin Metals Minnesota plans use the dry stack method for its project’s tailings storage configuration:
“Today’s Twin Metals Minnesota announcement of its plan to use a dry stack tailings storage method is an example of what responsible companies do – listen to and consider the counsel provided by regulators, tribes, communities, industry and organizations like ours, configuring their projects to accomplish both environmental protection and economic feasibility.
“Jobs for Minnesotans supports companies that optimize technology selection to both meet environmental standards and deliver strong economic impact to our state. For Twin Metals Minnesota, the dry stack tailings storage method is the right option to do just that for its specific underground mine project. The method will also result in adding about 50 more jobs to the payroll once the mine is operational.
“All major development projects, including non-ferrous mining projects, should be allowed to work with stakeholders to design projects that meet our society’s needs without being prematurely judged. Once formally proposed, the project should then be thoroughly reviewed by regulators and the public in a manner that evaluates the facts. Jobs for Minnesotans believes the regulatory process is a means to strengthen and improve projects to ultimately assure that if projects achieve their permits, the public’s interests have been met.
“Each new mining project has unique circumstances and configurations based on its specific location, geology and environmental factors. While Twin Metals Minnesota has yet to submit its formal project proposal to state and federal regulators, we look forward to when they do in the coming months and watch this exciting project move through the thorough review process.
“Twin Metals Minnesota will bring more than 700 well-paying and family sustaining jobs as well as 1,400 spinoff jobs to the region. The company has already invested more than $450 million in the project and region to-date and is expected to invest $1.2 billion by the time the mine is operational.”
“Twin Metals Minnesota will bring more than 700 well-paying and family sustaining jobs as well as 1,400 spinoff jobs to the region. The company has already invested more than $450 million in the project and region to-date and is expected to invest $1.2 billion by the time the mine is operational.”
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.
###
Media Contact: Nancy Norr, Chair
nnorr@mnpower.com
Cell: 218.590.6978
St. Paul, Minn. (July 3, 2019) – Jobs for Minnesotans released the following statement addressing today’s deadline to petition the Minnesota Court of Appeals ruling last month on Enbridge’s Line 3 Replacement Project:
“We are pleased the MPUC decided against filing a petition to the Minnesota Court of Appeal’s ruling last month on the Project’s Final Environmental Impact Statement. The outcome of the ruling is a legitimate aspect of the review process and the additional narrow review ordered by the Court should move forward without delay.
Jobs for Minnesotans urges the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) to work expeditiously and in close coordination with the Minnesota Department of Commerce and other involved state agencies through the final steps of the review process for Enbridge’s Line 3 Replacement Project. The Line 3 Project has already been the most thoroughly reviewed project in the State of Minnesota’s history.
This Project has real impacts to real people across the state, and Minnesota communities are waiting with urgency for this project to move forward. Not just for the $2.6 billion investment in the state’s energy infrastructure or the 6,500 family-sustaining local jobs that will bring many Minnesota skilled tradespeople home, but also to protect the environment which is progressively more at risk as this review process continues.”
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.
###
Media Contact: Nancy Norr, Chair
nnorr@mnpower.com
Cell: 218.590.6978
Star Tribune
Leo Gerard
Thousands of workers in Minnesota depend on mining jobs like those at PolyMet to support their families and communities. Mining pumps nearly $2 billion a year into Minnesota’s economy and provides $60 million annually to the state’s public schools.
Star Tribune
Rep. Pete Stauber
[…]
Because northeastern Minnesota is our home, a place where we live our daily lives, raise our families and recreate, we hold this project to the highest environmental standards in the world. Like any project, this mine requires compliance with stringent federal and state laws administered by the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and others.
[…]
To be permitted, Twin Metals is required to follow the process. And once the project is permitted, our Superior National Forest will continue to provide recreation and resources for our family, friends and neighbors for generations to come.
Read More: http://www.startribune.com/u-s-rep-pete-stauber-let-the-compliance-process-work-on-the-twin-metals-project/511975052/
St. Paul, Minn. (June 28, 2019) – Jobs for Minnesotans released the following statement after PolyMet Mining Corp. announced that the Swiss mining firm Glencore AG had increased its ownership stake in the company, based on preliminary results of a rights offering, raising its ownership from 29 percent to roughly 72 percent:
“Jobs for Minnesotans welcomes this sizable, financial vote of confidence in the amazing potential of the PolyMet NorthMet copper-nickel mine near Hoyt Lakes in northeastern Minnesota. The NorthMet Project will be a nearly $1 billion construction project and will employ 360 workers with well-paying and family-sustaining jobs in the region when operational.
“These long-term jobs for skilled tradespeople will be brought to a region with a more than 130-year heritage of responsible mining while also protecting the environment. The NorthMet Project will generate an estimated $515 million annually to cultivate a more diverse and thriving regional and statewide economy, and, create access to essential metals to power the green economy and our modern world.”
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.
###
Media Contact: Nancy Norr, Chair
nnorr@mnpower.com
Cell: 218.590.6978