Twin Metals Minnesota Sues Feds Over Minerals Lease Renewals
Star Tribune
Steve Karnowski
A mining company that hopes to build an underground copper-nickel mine near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness sued the federal government Monday to try to keep the mineral rights leases it needs for the $2.8 billion project to go forward.
Twin Metals Minnesota’s lawsuit seeks to invalidate a recent opinion by the solicitor of the U.S. Department of the Interior that the company doesn’t have an automatic right to renew its two leases, which were first issued in 1966 and last renewed in 2004. The lawsuit said earlier renewals were routinely granted.
The solicitor’s opinion, sent to the federal Bureau of Land Management, has “cast a cloud of uncertainty” over the project, blocking the company from engaging in long-term planning, investment, development and operational decisions, Twin Metals’ Chief Operating Officer Ian Duckworth said in a statement.
Read More: http://www.startribune.com/twin-metals-minnesota-sues-feds-over-minerals-lease-renewals/393122091/
PolyMet Submits Application for Air Emissions Permit
Duluth News Tribune
Staff
PolyMet Mining Inc. on Wednesday submitted another in a series of applications for state and federal permits needed to build a proposed copper-nickel mine and processing center on the Iron Range.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency said it has received the company’s application for an air-emissions permit.
Read More: http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/business/4101065-polymet-submits-application-air-emissions-permit
PolyMet Submits Another Permit Application
Duluth News Tribune
John Myers
PolyMet Mining, Inc. on Tuesday submitted another in a series of applications for state and federal permits needed to build a proposed copper-nickel mine and processing center on the Iron Range.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency said it has received the company’s application for so-called 401-certification that involves water and wetlands that will be impacted by the project. The applications also includes the company’s plan to replace wetlands destroyed.
Read More: http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/business/4086789-polymet-submits-another-permit-application
Copper/Nickel Range Support Ongoing
Mesabi Daily News
Editorial Board
Supporters of simple, fair and even-handed treatment of the Twin Metals mining leases issue will trek to the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center today for a U.S. Forest Service listening session.
It’s about renewal of leases that should be a slam dunk for continued exploration of possible copper/nickel mining in the region.
Twin Metals has proved itself to be a good business neighbor in Minnesota, especially on the Iron Range. It has already produced jobs, while paying taxes and investing about $400 million into the state.
We applaud all those who today will continue the good fight for what is right for the state and Iron Range and its people and workers.
Our View: Follow the Process for Twin Metals
Duluth News Tribune
Editorial Board
“A 30-day public comment period and … two public hearing sessions is not a substitute for a three- to five-year federal environmental review process that allows for substantial scientific input,” Twin Metals Government Affairs Adviser Bob McFarlin astutely pointed out in a meeting last week with the News Tribune, including with members of the editorial board. “That … process, when it is followed, is the process that allows communities, businesses, stakeholders and other organizations the opportunity to participate. If our project or any project is stopped at this point, that is a unilateral decision by a federal agency that does not take into account, the same way (the completion of an Environmental Impact Statement) would, the input from affected stakeholders.”
A renewal rejection now by the U.S. Forest Service would eliminate the public from the process. And would be in contrast to past approvals, McFarlin pointed out, a “complete, 180-degree turn on the Forest Service’s opinion on the environmental impacts — and nothing new has occurred.”
Read More: http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/our-view/4072827-our-view-follow-process-twin-metals
PolyMet Submits 4 Permit Applications
Mesabi Daily News
Bill Hanna
PolyMet Mining has submitted the first four applications for its copper/nickel/precious metals project near Hoyt Lakes and Babbitt to the Department of Natural Resources.
The company also announced on Monday that it has repaid a $5.1 million loan, including interest, to the Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Board.
The applications are for water-related permits required for construction and operation of the PolyMet project to be located in the footprint of the former LTV Mining Co. site.
“Formal submission of water-related permit applications is another important milestone for PolyMet and the NorthMet Project,” said PolyMet President and CEO Jon Cherry.
Mining Supporters Rally in Virginia
KQDS TV
Zach Richie
*Click link to view video
Iron Range Leaders gathered in Virginia to voice their anger towards the U.S. Forest Service over a listening session taking place on mineral lease renewals in Duluth.
“It’s not just about Minnesota’s Iron Range. It’s about our national security, it’s about our national economy, it’s about our ability to grow and prosper,” said Nolan.
The Forest Service said they want to get public opinion on the issue, but this crowd said they are not being heard.
Read More: http://www.fox21online.com/news/local-news/mining-supporters-rally-in-virginia/40268908
WDIO TV
Staff
*Click link to view video
They stood together, representing business, the trades, cities, counties, and legislative districts. And the leaders on the Range want the U.S. Forest Service to know, they are not happy about the agency’s stance on the Twin Metals project.
“They’ve changed the rules, and to add insult to injury, they’re holding a public hearing in Duluth. Which is not convenient and not accessible to the majority of Iron Range residents who live here, and will be directly impacted if the mine comes to fruition,” said Steve Giorgi, executive director of RAMS.
Congressman Rick Nolan has been outspoken and critical of the Forest Service since the statement was issued. He and Senators Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar have sent a letter to the agency, requesting a public listening session on the Iron Range.
Read More: http://www.wdio.com/TWIM/mining-twin-metals-environment-forest-service-iron-range/4183573/
Star Tribune
Steve Karnowski
A company that wants to build an underground copper-nickel mine near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northeastern Minnesota criticized the U.S. Forest Service on Tuesday for saying it may deny renewal of the mineral leases needed for the $2.8 billion project near Ely.
Twin Metals Minnesota said the Forest Service’s statement “suggests a disturbing predisposition or bias” against renewing the leases even before the federal agency opens a 30-day public comment period next Monday. The company said it’s “evaluating all options” to protect its property and due process rights, and says it’s entitled to renew the two leases, which were first issued in 1966 and last renewed in 2004.
Read More: http://www.startribune.com/copper-mine-developer-fires-back-against-us-forest-service/382991171/
NorthMet mine should be allowed to proceed
MinnPost
Bryn Howe, Minnetonka Middle School East
Our class has been learning about plans to open a new mine in Minnesota, and the pros and cons of that proposed mine. In my opinion, PolyMet should be permitted to open this new mine (called NorthMet) in Minnesota. PolyMet, a mining company, is interested in becoming the first company to mine copper, nickel, and other precious metals in northeastern Minnesota, or more specifically, the Duluth Complex, an area rich in minerals that borders the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA).
Read more: https://www.minnpost.com/letters/2016/05/northmet-mine-should-be-allowed-proceed