Mesabi Daily News
Editorial Board
Mining advocates have asked over the last several months, “How do we fight it?” referring to the barrage of opposition to copper-nickel projects. It’s the $1 billion question concerning Twin Metals. Answering it will take a strong chorus of voices to show federal agencies how the project would serve as a leading economic driver for the Ely region, providing a small degree of diversification within the mining industry.
On Thursday the U.S. Forest Service hosts the first of what will now be two public comment hearings on a proposed land withdrawal from future mining leases. More than 234,000 acres are on the chopping block — for potentially 20 years — including acreage the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management already denied Twin Metals from exploratory access to research its concept for an underground copper-nickel mine.