Poll Finds Northeastern Minnesota Support for Copper Mining
Duluth News Tribune
John Myers
A new public opinion poll appears to show strong support among Northeastern Minnesota residents for proposed copper mining in the region.
The poll, conducted Nov. 12-14 and paid for by Twin Metals Minnesota, found that nearly two-thirds of the 400 people surveyed support copper mining.
PolyMet Submits Application for Permit to Mine
Duluth News Tribune
John Myers
PolyMet Mining Co. on Thursday submitted its massive application for a state permit to mine, the first ever for a copper mine in Minnesota.
The more-than-15,000-page document, years in the works, lays out the company’s detailed plans to blast open the mine pit, build a processing center near Hoyt Lakes, design and operate water treatment technology and then close the mine and rehabilitate the site when the copper, nickel, gold and other precious metals are played out.
The permit application, which the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will now review, also includes PolyMet’s proposal for a financial assurance package — money guaranteed and set aside to fix any problems that might happen years into the future, even if the company leaves town or files for bankruptcy.
The DNR is expected to review the applications over several months, demand changes and negotiate over how much money should be set aside to pay for any unforeseen trouble.
“There’s a certain amount of back-and-forth between the agency and the permit applicant as we identify areas where we need some supplemental information,” said DNR Assistant Commissioner Barb Naramore.
Read More: http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/business/mining/4151253-polymet-submits-application-permit-mine
St. Paul, Minnesota (Nov. 3, 2016) – Jobs for Minnesotans today released the following statement in response to PolyMet Mining’s submission of its Permit to Mine application for its NorthMet copper-nickel mining project in northeastern Minnesota:
“The submission of PolyMet’s Permit to Mine application marks a significant milestone in advancing the economic future of our state. Minnesotans have been advocating for this project, which will launch a modern and diverse era in mining, for more than 10 years. To be in the homestretch toward bringing more than 300 high-quality, full-time mining jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars of investment to our state is a historic moment.
“At a time when economic investment can be uncertain, PolyMet offers hope and financial security for the hardworking men and women who call Hoyt Lakes and the surrounding region home. This is a future that will send children to college and will offer the promise of middle-class jobs for generations to come.
“PolyMet has demonstrated time and time again that it is a responsible company committed to meeting the state and federal government’s strict regulatory standards. A great deal of work by experts has gone into developing a thorough Permit to Mine application, and we look forward to regulators preparing the permit in a predictable and timely fashion.”
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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State Jobs Coalition Expands to Energy
Mesabi Daily News
Jerry Burnes
A statewide business group is putting its support behind Enbridge’s Line 3 Replacement Project.
Jobs for Minnesotans announced Friday that it expanded its mission to support energy transportation projects, joining the group’s support of job creation from proposed copper-nickel mining in Minnesota.
St. Paul, Minnesota (Oct. 28, 2016) – Jobs for Minnesotans announced today that the coalition will be expanding its mission of supporting responsible industries committed to investing in Minnesota and following environmental standards to include support for energy transportation projects. This mission is in addition to the coalition’s longstanding support of sustainable job creation from proposed copper-nickel mining projects in Minnesota.
Enbridge, an energy transportation company, has proposed an investment of $2.6 billion for a replacement program for its existing Line 3 crude oil pipeline, which spans from North Dakota through Minnesota and into Wisconsin. The Jobs for Minnesotans Board of Directors voted unanimously to expand the organization’s mission based on the role Enbridge plays in the economic future of the state.
“This expanded mission is a natural progression of the efforts of our allies in labor, business and communities to ensure all Minnesotans have a prosperous future. We must advance projects that protect the environment and encourage investments that strengthen communities in Greater Minnesota, as well as enhance the economy statewide,” said Nancy Norr, board chair of Jobs for Minnesotans. “Enbridge’s Line 3 Replacement Project will provide around 1,500 family-sustaining construction jobs in Minnesota as well as a $2.1 billion boost for the economy. Much like proposed copper-nickel mining projects in northeastern Minnesota, we can’t afford not to see this project move forward.”
The Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce jointly formed Jobs for Minnesotans in 2012 and remain closely aligned on the need to support statewide natural resource development and follow the established and fair review process.
“Minnesota belongs to all of us and we’re responsible for ensuring this state remains an unparalleled place to live, work and play for generations to come,” said Harry Melander, president of the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council. “These companies – Enbridge, PolyMet Mining, Twin Metals Minnesota and others – already do and will continue to provide good-paying jobs right here in Minnesota for thousands of people.”
“We’re very fortunate in our state to have some of the best environmental standards in the world,” said Doug Loon, president of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. “Our state and federal agencies should allow these projects to follow the transparent and predictable review process already in place to protect our water quality and environment. We need to send the message that Minnesota is open for responsible-minded businesses, and projects like Enbridge’s Line 3 Replacement, which will ensure continued safe and reliable operations.”
With its new mission, Jobs for Minnesotans will continue to serve as a platform for supporters to stay educated and learn how to get involved to support job creation in the state.
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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Polymet Hosts Project Update, Site Tours
WDIO-TV
Baihly Warfield
*Click link to view video
It’s been a couple years since the public has been invited on to the Polymet site in Hoyt Lakes. Right now, it resembles a ghost town. But on Wednesday, dozens of visitors graced its dirt roads.
Polymet invited vendors, contractors, future employees and the public to an open house at the Giant’s Ridge chalet for a project update, which was followed by tours of the potential mine.
Read More: http://www.wdio.com/news/polymet-mining-/4302649/
Mining Minnesota Pitches for PolyMet
Business North
Beth Bily
PolyMet may have completed it’s the environmental review, but advocates are still stressing the merits of the proposed non-ferrous mining project. Now, with the PolyMet entering its permitting phase, Mining Minnesota is keeping up with its efforts to inform the public about its potential benefits.
Non-ferrous advocate organization, Mining Minnesota, took that message to the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday morning, noting the economic potential of PolyMet as well as other non-ferrous mining projects at various stages of development.
“Minnesota is a mining state,” Mining Minnesota Executive Director Frank Ongaro said, adding that it’s the third largest mining state in country in terms of employment, GDP contributions and labor income. “What we have is an opportunity to develop the next generation of mining and double the size of the mining industry.”
Non-ferrous mineral deposits located along the Duluth Complex in northern Minnesota include copper, nickel, platinum, palladium and gold, and others. In addition to Canadian-based PolyMet, several companies have invested in non-ferrous proposals including Antofagasta, Kennecott and Rio Tinto, to name a few.
MINE IX: Enbridge Poised to Provide Jobs
Mesabi Daily News
Britta Arendt
“It’s the nature of the job to travel but it would be great if they could spend a year or two working at home near their families,” says Jason George Special Projects Director for pipefitters union Local 49.
George knows how important a project like the Enbridge Line 3 replacement could be for Iron Range workers and their families. He also serves on the board of Jobs for Minnesotans, a coalition of organizations representing business, labor and local governments all working together for the common goal of job creation in Minnesota.
Enbridge Energy’s Line 3 is a 1,097-mile crude oil pipeline extending from Edmonton, Alberta to Superior, Wis. It was installed in the 1960s. The company is poised to replace 282 miles of 34-inch diameter pipeline running through northern Minnesota with 337 miles of 36-inch pipeline to allow Enbridge to better respond to varying refinery needs. The project also includes the installation of eight pump stations. The update is expected to both restore historical operating capabilities and move 760,000 barrels per day.
Duluth News Tribune
Phillips S. Baker
*Phillips S. Baker is CEO of Hecla Mining Co., the largest silver-mining company in the U.S. It has operations in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and Noxon, Mont.
Here’s a question: What does mining have to do with your cellphone?
The answer, surprisingly, is “a lot.” Whether you know it or not, your smartphone was constructed from a wide array of metals and minerals mined from deep inside the Earth. Smartphones, laptop computers, solar panels, wind turbines and electric cars require significant amounts of gold, silver, platinum, palladium, copper, tin and other metals. In fact, just about every device needed in the 21st-century economy relies on a number of these key metals and minerals.
Duluth Council Declines to Call for PolyMet Hearings
Minnesota Public Radio
Dan Kraker
*Click link for audio
After two and a half hours of passionate testimony, the Duluth City Council voted down a resolution Monday night that would have called for another step in the regulatory process for a proposed copper-nickel mine.
The City Council vote was strictly advisory. The proposal would have pushed for so-called “evidentiary hearings” in front of an administrative law judge before the Minnesota DNR decides whether to approve the PolyMet mine.
But the advisory nature of the vote didn’t stop more than 100 residents of Duluth and northeast Minnesota from packing the stuffy council chambers.
David Ross, president of the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce, called the resolution a last-minute effort to block PolyMet.
Read More: http://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/09/13/duluth-council-declines-call-for-polymet-hearing