COMMENTARY: Move Forward with Line 67 Expansion
The Bemidji Pioneer
Kyle Makarios
Enbridge, an energy transportation company operating in Minnesota, is proposing to expand capacity on its existing Line 67 pipeline on a three-mile segment that crosses the U.S.-Canada border. Known as the Line 67 Expansion, this project will allow Enbridge to safely transport 800,000 barrels per day across the international border on Line 67. This is the same volume of oil moving along other areas of the pipeline, so the expansion will reduce system bottlenecks and increase the ability to meet shipper demand in the system.
Read More: http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/opinion/4230093-commentary-move-forward-line-67-expansion
Jobs for Minnesotans Support Responsible Mining, Energy Transportation
Hometown Focus
Nancy Norr
Job growth remains a top concern among Minnesotans—particularly those living in Greater Minnesota—as shown in the findings of the Blandin Foundation’s 2016 Rural Pulse survey. This lack of confidence in the employment market underscores the importance of creating economic opportunity and jobs in Minnesota through responsible copper-nickel mining and energy transportation. With low incomes and a vulnerable economy, Jobs for Minnesotans will continue to advocate for development projects that result in job growth and economic benefits for our state.
Established in 2012 by the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council, representing over 55,000 workers, and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, representing 2,300 companies and 500,000 employees, Jobs for Minnesotans gives a voice to those in favor of a strong economic future in the state of Minnesota.
The unique combination of business, labor and community groups formed the coalition because of the undeniable need for job creation and the overwhelming solution to address this issue: promoting two of the largest potential job creators in our state—responsible mining and energy transportation.
Jobs for Minnesotans filled a gap. Its diverse representation provides meaningful support to the mining and energy transportation industries that a company or industry association isn’t in a position to do. In what can sometimes be a highly-charged debate, the coalition represents a broad-base of supporters who know that job creation and a quality environment can coexist.
MINE XII: Guest Column: Land Withdrawal Threatens the Region
Mesabi Daily News, Hibbing Daily Tribune, Grand Rapids Herald-Review and the Chisholm Tribune Press
Bill Hanna
The federal government is threatening our region. Future jobs and our way of life are at risk.
The citizens of Northeastern Minnesota need to take action and let their voices be heard.
MINE XII: PolyMet: Slow and Steady Progress
Mesabi Daily News, Hibbing Daily Tribune, Grand Rapids Herald-Review and the Chisholm Tribune Press
Bill Hanna
Jon Cherry took little time pondering the question and his response.
After all, he’s heard the same query repeatedly the last few years. And his answers have varied only when significant project updates were inserted from time to time.
“Obviously we wish it would be going faster,” Cherry said in a recent telephone interview from company Twin Cities offices, regarding final permitting work for the PolyMet copper/nickel/precious metals venture near Hoyt Lakes and Babbitt.
“But the process is being followed, and it will be very good — the best — when done,” he added.
[…]
Or, put another way: If such slow and stringent approval would have been needed to extract minerals to build the country, horses would have been regularly shoed and wagon wheels fixed well beyond their commercial life expediency.
The project holds great job and financial promise for the Iron Range — especially the east end, which has been economically devastated ever since LTV Mining shut down in 2001.
County Board Gives Trump Letter Final Approval
Duluth News Tribune
John Myers
The St. Louis County Board of Commissioners Tuesday gave final approval to a resolution asking the Trump administration to overturn a late Obama administration ban on copper mining near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Read More: http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/4218056-county-board-gives-trump-letter-final-approval
Our View: Trump Can Undo Order to Change Rules on Mining
Duluth News Tribune
Editorial Board
Mining hadn’t even been proposed yet. There was still just mineral exploration in far Northeastern Minnesota, the drilling down into the Earth to see what was there, to see if there was enough to help satisfy our nation’s hunger for the copper and other metals that power our everyday existence, our necessities like cell phones, cars and lights.
[…]
Twin Metals was $400 million into that process and into what could be $3 billion of private investment in our state with the promise of nearly 1,000 badly needed, good-paying, family-supporting jobs.
Fox 21
Melissa Lentz
PolyMet Mining, Inc. has submitted their updated water appropriation permit application to the Department of Natural Resources.
Federal Land Block Opposed with 4-3 Committee Vote
Mesabi Daily News
Jerry Burnes
A controversial resolution will go before the full St. Louis County Board next week after a committee of the whole passed it with a 4-3 vote Tuesday.
The resolution, if passed by the full board on Feb. 14, will put the county on the record against a federal government proposal to withdraw hundreds of thousands of acres from future mining leases. A previous resolution failed on Jan. 24.
What the Fight Against a Land Withdrawal Stands For
Mesabi Daily News
Editorial Board
Paying the bills. Putting food on the table. Supporting a family and local community.
A year ago, Iron Range lawmakers were in the thick of negotiations over a jobless benefits extension for laid-off miners to give them relief from the harsh 2015 downturn. Those miners trekked back and forth to St. Paul to make their voices heard. It was fairly consensus leading up to the March 2016 extension that miners needed help from the government to support themselves, their families and their communities during economic hardship.
Nolan Outreach to Trump Administration on Mining Draws Fire
Associated Press
Staff
U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan has asked the federal government to reverse an Obama administration decision to block minerals exploration and mining in more than 234,000 acres of the Superior National Forest near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.