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.
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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.
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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.
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Media Contact: Nancy Norr, Chair
nnorr@mnpower.com
Office: 218.723.3905
Cell: 218.590.6978
Duluth News Tribune
John Myers
One week before public hearings begin on Minnesota’s proposed new rules for protecting wild rice from sulfate pollution, the state’s mining industry, Steelworkers and Iron Range officials and activists are restating their fervent opposition.
Critics say the new rule could cause increased regulation for taconite iron ore processing operations and some municipal sewage treatment plants.
Open Letter to Zinke and Perdue to Repeal Federal Land Withdrawal
Mesabi Daily News
Gerald M. Tyler
In April 2015, collaborating with anti-mining activists, Minnesota Fourth District Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN) introduced a bill to ban mining on all federal lands within the Rainy River Watershed of the Superior National Forest. In March 2016, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton, in collusion with the anti-mining activists, directed the Minnesota DNR not to authorize or enter into any new leases or state access agreements on state lands in the Rainy River Watershed of the Superior National Forest. Governor Dayton’s unlawful directive prohibits mineral development on approximately 147,600 acres of state owned lands. The 147,600 acres include 95,000 acres of Minnesota Public School Trust Lands. These lands are owned by the state in trust for all public schools of Minnesota. Revenues generated from school trust lands are credited to the permanent school fund managed by the State Board of Investment including royalty payments. The Governor’s wrongful and unlawful directive prohibiting mineral entry and development on School Trust Lands will deny Minnesota schools of millions of dollars of revenues to operate and maintain the public schools.
WDIO-TV
Staff
*Click link to view video
Union leaders, DFL officials, and environmental groups are upset after two well-known advocates were quoted with some disdainful comments about miners in a piece to be published in Sunday’s New York Times Magazine.
Dave Lislegard, a third generation Iron Ranger, former steelworker, and now an Aurora City Councilor, sat down with Eyewitness News and shared his perspective on the comments.
“These comments and statements are extremely disheartening for people on the Iron Range. They are uncalled for and unwarranted. We can agree to disagree. But attacking our way of life, for the Range, it’s very disappointing.”
Read More: http://www.wdio.com/TWIM/mining-boundary-waters-becky-rom-nyt-article/4634176/?cat=10335
St. Paul, Minn. (Oct. 4, 2017) – Jobs for Minnesotans today released the following statement in response to recent bi-partisan actions by Reps. Tom Emmer (MN-06), Congressman Collin Peterson (MN-07) and Congressman Jason Lewis (MN-02) to allow responsible mineral production to continue in Northern Minnesota.
“Jobs for Minnesotans supports the important bi-partisan actions our leaders have championed in the U.S. House of Representatives. The actions to oppose the land and mineral withdrawal proposed by the U.S. Forest Service and renew the Twin Metals federal mineral leases bring hope to Northeastern Minnesotans that their way of life will be sustained and their economic future strengthened.
Reps. Emmer, Peterson and Lewis deserve great credit for working together across party lines, to represent the best interests of the citizens, communities and working families in Northeastern Minnesota and across the state. These actions help to eliminate delays, return to good stewardship of fair process and restore the opportunity to explore strategic metals in one of the richest mineral deposits in the nation critical to our economy and national security.”
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: Meagan Pick
jobsforminnesotans@gmail.com
952.346.6049
Emmer Bill Prohibits Excluding Federal Land from Mining
Mesabi Daily News
Staff
U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., introduced legislation Tuesday that would prohibit the U.S. Forest Service from excluding any National Forest land from mining without approval from Congress.
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The bill also would restore mineral leases to Twin Metals, the company which has plans for an underground copper mine near the Kawishiwi River and Ely. Similar legislation to restore those leases already has advanced in the House.