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
Land Exchange Clears Senate, Keeping PolyMet on Course
Mesabi Daily News
Jerry Burnes
The U.S. Senate on Monday passed the National Defense Authorization Act, and with it, the PolyMet land exchange amendment proposed by Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., marking another step forward for the company.
Last week the Senate passed the amend in a cloture vote on the bill, on the same day, PolyMet received notice from the U.S. Forest Service that the land deal would close June 28.
St. Paul, Minn. (June 14, 2018) – Jobs for Minnesotans today released the following statement in response to news about the June 28, 2018, closing date for the administrative land exchange for the PolyMet NorthMet Project:
“Today’s news that the administrative land exchange for PolyMet will be complete later this month is a positive step toward bringing hundreds of jobs to northeastern Minnesotans from the NorthMet project. We’re pleased to learn there is now a definitive timeline for this long-awaited land exchange to be finalized.
“The land exchange will not greenlight the PolyMet mining project, but rather will ratify what the Forest Service already determined during its exhaustive environmental review and public input process – that the land exchange is in the public’s best interest.”
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
Ely Echo
Dean DeBeltz
Building on our commitment to sharing information about the Twin Metals Project with the public as details become more certain, we recently released new project information. As a part of this effort, I had the opportunity to meet with a number of people in our community who are interested and engaged in the future of our project. The conversations were productive and were based on maintaining open lines of communication to provide accurate information about our project as it becomes available. In the spirit of these meetings, I wanted to take the opportunity to provide some facts about our project.
[…]
At the end of the day, we’re not trying to look for shortcuts. We’re going through the process as is outlined by state and federal law.
Our company and employees are tremendously honored and thankful to call this area home.
Read More: https://www.elyecho.com/articles/2018/06/10/there-are-no-shortcuts-opening-mine
Twin Metals Provides New Mine Information
Mesabi Daily News
Jerry Burnes
Twin Metals Minnesota unveiled new information Thursday on its anticipated underground copper-nickel project nearly Ely, including locations of the mine’s concentrator, tailings storage facility and new office.
Estimates provided by Twin Metals project the mine will create 650 direct jobs, 1,300 spin-off jobs in the region and 4 million construction hours, with a total of $40 billion in mineral value, at a total investment of $1.2 billion.
The Ripon Advance
Staff
U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) is helping steer a Congressional Western Caucus initiative regarding American mineral mining that is championed by Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Rep. Emmer and other members of the caucus seek a comprehensive review by the Trump administration of all mineral withdrawals executed under the previous administration and for action to be taken “to scrap any mineral withdrawals determined to be without merit and whose purpose served to block responsible development,” according to a May 2 letter sent to U.S. President Donald Trump, U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, and Vicki Christiansen, interim chief of the U.S. Forest Service.
Read More: https://riponadvance.com/featured/emmer-leads-gop-effort-end-obama-era-mineral-withdrawals/