Safe and Sound
Citizen’s League Voice
Frank Ongaro
Keep in mind, copper and nickel production, when thoughtfully pursued, can be as safe as it is successful.
[…]
What’s more, we cannot ignore the fact that mining is essential to our nation’s desire for alternative sources of energy. We need these metals if we want a green economy. The largest wind turbines require four tons of copper, and electric vehicles can have as much as twice the amounts of copper and nickel as a regular automobile.
Read More: https://citizensleague.org/blog/a-good-debate-mining-arguments/
St. Paul, Minn. (July 24, 2018) – Jobs for Minnesotans today released the following statement in response the omission of the land exchange provision in the final bill for the National Defense Authorization Act:
“The news that the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act coming out of conference committee does not include the PolyMet land exchange provision is disappointing. That said, there has been great enthusiasm across party lines for the provision and we’re thankful to our leaders, including Senators Smith and Klobuchar and Congressmen Nolan and Emmer, for their support and full recognition to date of the land exchange’s merits. We’ve worked continuously together, and we know how committed they have been to getting it done and that our delegation remains resolved to continue their efforts. Supporters of economic development in our state through responsible copper-nickel mining are resilient and remain hopeful that there will soon be full congressional affirmation of the U.S. Forest Service’s past decision on the land exchange.”
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
Time for Federal Agencies to Follow the President’s Lead
Mesabi Daily News
Steve Giorgi, Nancy Norr and Frank Ongaro
We thank the President for his strong words and promise to support mining. Now, let’s not wait another 500 days – or even 100 days – to see the withdrawal proposal formally rescinded by the U.S. Forest Service. We are counting the days until federal agencies officially rescind this needless proposal in favor of supporting a fair process.
St. Paul, Minn. (June 28, 2018) – Jobs for Minnesotans today released the following statement in response to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) decision to grant the Line 3 Replacement Project’s Certificate of Need and approve the Route Permit for an alternative route:
“Today’s Public Utilities Commission decision is the culmination of a robust regulatory review process that has involved thousands of people from across the state for more than four years. It is clear that the Commissioners worked diligently to uphold the rule of law while balancing the interests of diverse stakeholders. We strongly agree with the decision to grant the Certificate of Need for the Line 3 Replacement Project and by extension the PUC’s acknowledgement that investing in infrastructure projects keeps our state safe and economically competitive. While we disagree with the PUC’s decision to grant a Route Permit for an alternative route, we are thankful that the route selected is still a feasible option from an economic perspective.”
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
PolyMet, Forest Service Complete Land Exchange
BusinessNorth
Staff
The U.S. Forest Service and PolyMet Mining exchanged titles Thursday on a controversial land exchange that will provide contiguous land for both entities. PolyMet officials have said the trade was necessary to accommodate development of a copper-nickel-precious mine near Hoyt Lakes.
Twin Metals Wants in on Lawsuits
Duluth News Tribune
Staff
Twin Metals has filed motions to intervene in the recent lawsuits challenging the federal government’s decision to reinstate the company’s mineral leases in the Superior National Forest.
Read More: https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/business/energy-and-mining/4466270-twin-metals-wants-lawsuits
Star Tribune
Jim Bowyer
In all of the discussion about copper mining in Minnesota, there is a remarkable lack of references to copper consumption within our state. At the same time that wind and solar energy expansion and electric vehicles are being enthusiastically promoted, the critical role of copper (and nickel) to these developments is never mentioned.
[…]
A return to the Obama-era 20-year moratorium on copper mining in Minnesota, as advocated by some, should perhaps be accompanied by a 20-year moratorium on the development and adoption of renewable energy and electric vehicles, and by a concerted investment to find copper (and nickel) substitutes.
Read More: http://startribune.com/copper-mining-worries-many-many-also-use-copper/486883581/
St. Paul, Minn. (June 22, 2018) – Jobs for Minnesotans today released the following statement in response to comments by the President intending to rescind the mineral withdrawal proposal:
“This week’s statement by the President to rescind the mineral withdrawal proposal validates the existing environmental review process in both its thoroughness and efficacy. This announcement reaffirms that the proper time to evaluate potential impacts of mining projects is after a specific project has been proposed. We fully agree with the importance of upholding good process and recognize the importance of Minnesota’s 130-year mining history. Rescinding the proposal will correct an injustice by removing uncertainty for potential ferrous and nonferrous mining interests in the region, preserving the future of the responsible mining industry that creates careers for the next generation and invests in our communities.”
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
Star Tribune
Anne Williamson
[…]
Twin Metals also agrees with the Star Tribune Editorial Board’s call for “agencies to conduct a rigorous, technology-driven and independent analysis” of the proposal. The federal environmental-impact statement (EIS) process that has been in place since the passage of the National Environmental Policy Act in 1969 requires agencies to do exactly that. A similar state program has been in use since the Minnesota Environmental Policy Act was passed in 1973. These processes rely on rigorous review of detailed project engineering plans and site-specific, empirical environmental data. These are processes citizens can trust.
St. Paul, Minn. (June 18, 2018) – Jobs for Minnesotans today released the following statement in response to the U.S. passing bipartisan legislation for the land exchange between PolyMet Mining and the U.S. Forest Service:
“Last week we acknowledged the milestone that the closing on the PolyMet land exchange with the U.S. Forest Service has been scheduled for later this month. Today, we celebrate the bipartisan U.S. Senate vote on the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes the PolyMet land exchange. We fully recognize that this momentous vote moves us a step closer to full congressional affirmation of the U.S. Forest Service’s past decision on the land exchange. This will allow the project to move forward with certainty after rigorous input from the public through the environmental review process. We thank our senators for championing this legislation to date.”
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