St. Paul, Minn. (Nov. 30, 2017) – Jobs for Minnesotans today released the following statement in response to two important pieces of legislation passing the U.S. House this week. Both pieces of legislation – H.R. 3115, the Superior National Forest Land Exchange Act, and H.R. 3905, Minnesota’s Economic Rights in the Superior National Forest Act (“MINER Act”) – support the future of job creation and economic growth in Minnesota.
“Jobs for Minnesotans is grateful to the members of the U.S. House of Representatives who voted in favor of H.R. 3115 and H.R. 3905, and in particular the champions of each bill, Rep. Rick Nolan and Rep. Tom Emmer, respectively. We are also thankful to Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar, chairman of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, for his steadfast support of Minnesota mining.
These bills protect fair process for multiple mineral development projects that have the potential to create thousands of jobs, plus approximately two additional jobs created in other industries for each mining job. We applaud this positive momentum in support of our crucial natural resource industry. A way of life for future generations of Minnesotans depends on our country’s commitment to timely, predictable and transparent regulatory processes at all stages of project development. We are thankful for these recent actions to support economic development and national security, and we hope for similarly positive outcomes as these bills move through the U.S. Senate.”
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.
###
Media Contact: Nancy Norr, Chair
nnorr@mnpower.com
Cell: 218.590.6978
U.S. House Approves Two Pro-Mining Bills
BusinessNorth
Staff
The U.S. House of representatives this week has approved a bill that would allow PolyMet Mining Corp. (PLM) to exchange land to accommodate its NorthMet project, pending approval by the Senate.
House members also approved legislation sponsored by U.S. Rep. Mark Emmer. It addresses the federal government’s reluctance to renew mineral leases sought by Twin Metals Minnesota.
We Can Mine Responsibly—Restore Our Rights
The Hill
Steve Giorgi, Kyle Makarios and Nancy Norr
Minnesota is not only one of the most beautiful states in the nation, it is also home to one of the world’s largest deposits of copper, nickel and other strategic resources. These are the minerals that give us technologies and devices required for modern life — indoor plumbing, electricity, cars, planes, smartphones, computers, wind turbines and solar panels. Without the mining of these precious metals, none of these items would exist and our daily lives would look much different.
Unfortunately, some would rather see these jobs and economic benefits outsourced to foreign countries with fewer environmental and worker protections and regulations. They refuse to accept that we can work towards a better way of life for our children and preserve our state’s scenic beauty at the same time. They would like you to believe that a haphazard, overly expansive ban on future development is the only option.
Read More: http://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/362378-we-can-mine-responsibly-restore-our-rights
U.S. House Passes PolyMet Land Exchange Bill
Mesabi Daily News
Jerry Burnes
Passage of the bill in House marks a major milestone for the PolyMet project, which needs the land exchange to allow the Army Corps. of Engineers to weigh in on the project, effectively ending the federal hurdles for the long-awaited open pit copper-nickel mine near Hoyt Lakes.
The land exchange, which was approved by the Obama administration, swaps more than 6,5000 acres with PolyMet and provides the federal government with more wetlands, public access lands, lakeshore and more. It does not approve the PolyMet project, Nolan stressed on the House floor Tuesday, but it does clear the way for the project in one respect, after more than 10 years of environmental review.
“It’s very exciting,” Nolan said “It’s going to put a lot of people back to work in the mines. The success of this long, drawn-out PolyMet process is being watched by a lot of people around the country and around the world.”
The bill needs a companion in the U.S. Senate to advance, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., has volunteered to carry the bill in the upper chamber, Nolan said. Klobuchar and Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., were early supporters of the land exchange bill, citing that the agencies had already signed off on it.
Our View: CEO Says PolyMet Will Mine ‘Safely,’ ‘Appropriately’
Duluth News Tribune
Editorial Board
“There’s a responsibility no matter where you mine to do it correctly and appropriately and to protect the environment,” [PolyMet CEO Jon] Cherry said. “I am 100 percent confident we’ll be protective of the St. Louis River watershed and Lake Superior and downstream. I think you could actually take our design and put it anywhere and be just as protective of the environment.”
[…]
“Our employees at PolyMet, they live here, they work here, they raise their families here, they want to recreate here. Who has a more vested interest in making sure this is done correctly?” Cherry asked. “There’s demand for all this metal. We have a chance to develop it responsibly here. I don’t think there’s anyone in here who doesn’t want clean air, who doesn’t want clean water.”
Emmer Bill to Allow Twin Metals Passes House Committee
Duluth News Tribune
John Myers
If it clears the House and Senate and is signed by President Trump, the bill would undo a last-minute move by the Obama administration to revoke mining exploration leases from Twin Metals for its proposed mine along the Kawishiwi River just outside the BWCAW, southeast of Ely.
St. Paul, Minn. (Nov. 8, 2017) – Jobs for Minnesotans, MiningMinnesota and the Range Association of Municipalities and Schools released the following statement in response to recent progress in the House Committee on Natural Resources on H.R. 3905, Minnesota’s Economic Rights in the Superior National Forest Act.
“Our organizations are very encouraged to see H.R. 3905 pass through the House Committee on Natural Resources. This represents significant progress toward correcting injustices to Minnesota, and in particular the northeastern part of the state.
We are thankful for the Committee’s support of the Act and understanding that swift passage of this bill into law is critical to protecting our economy and a way of life in the region. Our members are Minnesota residents who enjoy the hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for which the state is known but also need a way to make a living. This is a region that has mined responsibly for 130 years and with the opportunity to develop strategic metals projects will remain as a strong natural resource development based economy for generations to come.
The economic opportunities from mining projects are significant – thousands of direct jobs, two times as many jobs in spinoff industries and billions of dollars to support K-12 education across the state. The emerging mining industry is an investment in the future well-being of our state and nation, and this legislation helps to secure that future.”
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.
About MiningMinnesota
MiningMinnesota is an industrial trade organization made up of all nonferrous exploration and mineral development companies in Minnesota, along with approximately 100 supplier and vendor businesses, all committed to sustainable and environmentally responsible copper-nickel and PGM mineral development and mining in Minnesota.
About Range Association of Municipalities and Schools
Range Association of Municipalities and Schools (RAMS) represents more than 72,000 residents and 47 public sector units of government, including 23 cities, 15 public school districts and nine townships, in the 13,000 square mile Taconite Assistance Area (TAA) of northeast Minnesota.
###
Media Contacts:
Nancy Norr
Jobs for Minnesotans Chair
nnorr@mnpower.com
218.723.3905
Frank Ongaro
MiningMinnesota Executive Director
fongaro@miningminnesota.org
218.393.2301
Steve Giorgi
RAMS Executive Director
SGiorgi@ramsmn.org
218.780.8877
CEO: Twin Metals Preparing for Future Environmental Test
Mesabi Daily News
Jerry Burnes
The head of the parent company of Twin Metals Minnesota said this week he is forging ahead on environmental impact assessment preparation, with hope the Trump administration reverses a decision to revoke the company’s mineral rights on a project near Ely.
[…]
A Twin Metals spokesman said Friday that the company hasn’t submitted anything formal, but said it is gathering data for a formal proposal “in late 2018 or early 2019,” said Bob McFarlin.
Pioneer Press
Rachel E. Stassen-Berger
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton has moved from being “genuinely undecided” on the proposed PolyMet mine to being a genuine supporter.
PolyMet is a proposed copper-nickel mining project in northern Minnesota’s Iron Range that is now undergoing the permitting process. The process may still take a while — the final project may not be complete during Dayton’s term — but the governor’s favor may give comfort to supporters and dash the hopes of opponents. Dayton had been resolutely neutral on the project for much of his term.
Many along the economically stressed Iron Range have long-backed PolyMet’s plans for the open-pit mine’s promise of 360 permanent jobs and a revitalized mining industry.
Read More: http://www.twincities.com/2017/10/23/mark-dayton-supports-polymet-mining-proposal/
Duluth, Minn. (Oct. 18, 2017) – Jobs for Minnesotans today released the following statement in response to the extremist behavior by opponents to the Line 3 Replacement Project at the Duluth public hearing:
“Jobs for Minnesotans is appalled at the blatant display of extremist behavior at tonight’s Line 3 Replacement Project public hearing at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center. The intent of the public hearing was to listen to the views of Minnesotans, and aggressive actions by a group of individuals made it impossible for members of the public, including many of our members, to participate in this important public process and share their views.
Tonight’s display of intimidation tactics jeopardized the integrity of the regulatory process and made it unsafe for people to remain in the room. This is not the type of behavior that we expect from our fellow Minnesotans. This was not passion, it was aggression. It is never permissible to shutter a public process through unprovoked hostile actions that cause people to be afraid for their well-being.
With the remaining meetings on the Line 3 Replacement Project scheduled for next week, we hope there still will be the opportunity for the respectful discourse of opinions without threats and violence.”
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.
###
Media Contact: Nancy Norr, Chair
nnorr@mnpower.com
Office: 218.723.3905
Cell: 218.590.6978