Trump Administration Removes Obstacles to Mining Near BWCA
KMSP-TV
Alex Lenhart
The U.S. Department of Agriculture canceled the withdrawal Thursday, saying its review did not reveal any new scientific information. It says interested companies may soon be able to sign mineral leases in the watershed.
“It’s our duty as responsible stewards of our environment to maintain and protect our natural resources,” Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said in a statement. “At the same time, we must put our national forests to work for the taxpayers to support local economies and create jobs.”
[…]
Nancy Norr, of Jobs for Minnesotans said the benefits of mining activity and the jobs it will bring to the region is the most important thing.
“Appropriately named organization when you’re talking about the potential for thousands of new jobs associated with future mining activity in the Superior National Forest in Northern Minnesota,” she said.
Read More: http://www.fox9.com/news/environment/trump-administration-removes-obstacle-to-mining-near-bwca
St. Paul, Minn. (Sept. 6, 2018) – Jobs for Minnesotans today released the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture announcement that it has cancelled the proposed mineral withdrawal in northern Minnesota.
“Today’s announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture is the right decision for Minnesota’s future and validates the existing environmental review process – which states the proper time to evaluate potential impacts of mining projects is after they have been proposed. This action upholds what Minnesotans who believe that a mining economy can coexist with a treasured environment have been saying for nearly two years. This is a significant win for our way of life in Minnesota, where we have a long history of balancing these interests. We’re thankful to everyone who has helped us achieve today’s action.
“As the highest consuming nation in the world of these minerals, it’s irresponsible to put a world class deposit in the Duluth Complex off limits. We fully agree with the importance of upholding good review processes for the interests of all Minnesotans, a belief held by our state’s more than 130-year-old mining industry. This action removes a cloud of uncertainty for potential mining interests in the region, preserving a future for responsible mining that creates careers for the next generation, invests in our communities and supplies our nation with essential metals.”
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
Fuel for Recovery
Citizens League Voice
Nancy Norr
The economic potential of copper-nickel mining is well studied. According to a 2012 study by the University of Minnesota–Duluth’s Labovitz School of Business and Economics, for every job in the copper-nickel mining industry, two additional jobs will be created in other industries, like manufacturing, retail, and hospitality.
Not only is the quantity of jobs generated from mining impressive, but so are the quality of those jobs. These are high-paying jobs that sustain families, offer benefits, ensure a secure retirement, and put kids through college. The average wage for a mining job in the United States in 2016 was just shy of $74,000, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This figure is 38 percent higher than the average wage for all other industries. In Minnesota, the earnings potential for a mining job is even higher—over $77,000 in 2016 or 41 percent higher than the average annual wage for all other industries.
Read More: https://citizensleague.org/blog/a-good-debate-mining-arguments/
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/