Last October, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposed to withdraw 225,000 acres of federally owned land and minerals in northeast Minnesota from future mining leasing and potential development.
This action launched an environmental assessment around the proposal. In late June, the draft environmental assessment was released and launched a 30-day comment period for public input on the draft assessment.
This action jeopardizes the future of statewide benefits from Minnesota’s mining industry, ignores established regulatory and environmental review processes, and will have a devastating impact on the creation of thousands of jobs in northeast Minnesota and the region’s communities, economy and mining industry. Specifically, the withdrawal now covers both copper-nickel and taconite mining in the draft.
If you support job creation and the future of mining in Minnesota, take action now!
Make your voice heard by providing public comments to the U.S. Forest Service through one of three ways by August 12, 2022:
- Electronic comments are preferred through the project website at https://go.usa.gov/xuH43.
- Comments may also be sent electronically to comments-eastern-superior@usda.gov.
- Written comments may be sent to Forest Headquarters, 8901 Grand Avenue Place, Duluth, MN 55808.
Please use (copy and paste) the below sample message as your comment’s starting point, amend as you see fit by the deadline – Friday, August, 12, 2022:
Subject: Rainy River Withdrawal Application Draft EA Comment
I oppose the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management recommending a withdrawal of lands and minerals in northeast Minnesota from future leasing and potential development. The draft Environmental Assessment (EA) does not meet the rigor of the full Environmental Impact Statement and permitting processes that are required by law for proposed mining projects to thoroughly examine the details of a mine proposal. The EA also does not take into account any of the science or data from the Twin Metals Minnesota project proposal – submitted in 2019 – that took more than 10 years of hydro-geological and environmental studies, engineering, community engagement and design.
If enacted, the withdrawal will cause the state of Minnesota to lose thousands of potential jobs that would result from future mining projects, billions of dollars in future investment in northeast Minnesota, and billions in potential revenues from mining that support the state’s K-12 education system through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ School Trust Fund.
The targeted federal lands are in an area of historic mining activity where mining is currently allowed and encouraged by federal and state law. The withdrawal would provide no additional environmental protections than those that currently exist under state and federal law.
The Environmental Assessment is acting on a false presumption that any mining will pollute the Rainy River Watershed, basing these assumptions on studies with no credibility or applicability to our region. The only way to properly assess whether mining can occur safely is by thoroughly reviewing specific project proposals, as the nature of a project’s geology, environmental, and socioeconomic factors vary widely depending on where the project is located and its design. This clearly pre-determined draft EA doesn’t evaluate all the data available to determine if mining can be done safely.
The proposed withdrawal will also shut out a significant domestic source of critical minerals needed to combat the climate crisis – minerals that the U.S. is currently reliant on unpredictable and unstable foreign sources.
I urge the U.S. Forest Service reject this draft EA and its devastating impact on the future well-being of Minnesota citizens and communities.
St. Paul, Minn. (July 20, 2022) – Jobs for Minnesotans released the below statement following today’s announcement that PolyMet Mining and Teck Resources entered a joint venture agreement to develop the NorthMet project and further study the Mesaba opportunity. The joint venture will be named NewRange Copper Nickel LLC:
“This joint venture is very exciting news for northeast Minnesota and supporters of responsible domestic mineral production. NewRange Copper Nickel represents a vote of confidence by two premier global mining companies that Minnesota is the place to safely and responsibly mine domestically for clean energy minerals.
“The joint venture announced today builds upon the Iron Range’s mining legacy and provides a new sustainable mining opportunity for generations to come. It also brings Minnesota another step closer to answering the global climate, humanitarian and geopolitical challenges related to sourcing the clean energy minerals the world needs.
“Jobs for Minnesotans looks forward to both the legacy PolyMet NorthMet project regaining its last remaining permits and beginning construction soon, as well as the further investment in the Mesaba deposit which could bring even more family-sustaining jobs to the region while also protecting the environment.”
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 70,000 workers and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce representing 2,300 members 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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Take Action: Support PolyMet
After 10+ years of environmental review, research and testing, PolyMet has proved it can operate while protecting the environment. PolyMet has earned the permits it needs to begin construction and open the mine. Unfortunately, well-funded project opponents have continuously challenged the permits and the science behind them.
PolyMet and the agencies have prevailed in every instance. The courts have ruled on the project’s side time after time. Now, PolyMet’s wetlands permit has been called into question, and the company needs our voices of support.
SPEAK UP FOR POLYMET – PARTICIPATE IN A VIRTUAL PUBLIC HEARING
- WHAT: U.S Army Corps of Engineers public hearing on PolyMet’s 404 water permit
- WHEN: May 5, 2022 – 4:00 – 9:00 p.m.
- LEARN MORE: Here
There will also be an opportunity to submit your comment in writing for a period of time after the hearing. Learn more here: www.SupportPolyMet.com.
St. Paul, Minn. (March 31, 2022) – Jobs for Minnesotans released the below statement following today’s announcement from the White House that President Biden will invoke the Defense Production Act (DPA) to secure American production of critical minerals in order to bolster the country’s clean energy economy and reduce reliance on China and other countries:
“Jobs for Minnesotans is pleased with President Biden’s announcement today. This is a step in the right direction to bring the sourcing and processing of these minerals home, which will have a positive impact on national security, global environmental protections and investment and jobs in our country. This action proves that domestic mining must be part of the solution to securing mineral supply and achieving carbon emission reduction goals.
“We hope this change in policy is reflected in all aspects of securing the supply chain for these critical minerals. While this action encourages investment in our country, we cannot build more electric vehicles, solar or wind farms without a transparent, predictable and timely regulatory process for proposed mining projects.
“Northeast Minnesota holds the vast majority of U.S. reserves for cobalt, nickel and platinum group metals, with a strong mining heritage and union workforce. We strongly urge the President and his administration to also rescind the mineral withdrawal proposal in the Superior National Forest currently under review, and reinstate Twin Metals Minnesota’s valid mineral leases. As prime examples in Minnesota alone, both of these recent actions are contradictory to the DPA announced today.
“President Biden detailed the DPA will be authorized to support the production and processing of minerals and materials used for large capacity batteries–such as nickel, cobalt —minerals needed for green energy technologies and found in northeast Minnesota. The Department of Defense will implement this authority using its environmental, labor, community, and tribal consultation standards, which are the strongest in the 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 70,000 workers and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce representing 2,300 members 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: Brian Hanson, Board Chair
brian@apexgetsbusiness.com
218.730.7330
St. Paul, Minn. (January 26, 2022) – Jobs for Minnesotans today released the following statement in response to the Bureau of Land Management announcement they are canceling Twin Metals Minnesota’s mineral leases renewed in 2019:
“Jobs for Minnesotans is outraged by the Biden Administration’s politically motivated action today to cancel Twin Metals Minnesota’s mineral leases. This action is the latest in a series of recent attacks on the future accessibility of critical minerals and on the people of northeast Minnesota who have proudly and responsibly developed natural resources for generations. This administration is playing political football with the future long-term prosperity of an entire region and putting its own climate change strategy at risk.
“If the administration was at all interested in evaluating the science behind the ability to mine safely in this region, they would proceed with reviewing the Twin Metals mine proposal that’s been sitting on their desk for 2 years before arbitrarily canceling its leases.
“This action ignores the rigorous science-based environmental review process outlined in law. They know the environmental review process will prove this project can mine safely, so instead of advancing the process, they’re trying everything possible to circumvent science and stop the project to appease political campaigns acting as environmental groups opposing mining in Minnesota.
“You cannot combat the climate crisis through green energy technologies like electric vehicles, solar panels or windmills without the minerals that are located in northeast Minnesota. We as a country cannot continue to shut out an industry in one breath and then expect to have the ability to make this critical clean energy transition in another.”
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 70,000 workers and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce representing 2,300 members 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: Brian Hanson, Board Chair
brian@apexgetsbusiness.com
218.730.7330