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
PolyMet support overwhelming
Mesabi Daily News
Bill Hanna
Those in the media and opponents of the PolyMet copper/nickel/precious metals project who continue to say the Iron Range is split in opinion on the venture should have a different assessment if they attended Tuesday’s public hearing on the permitting process.
The overwhelming majority of the estimated 450 people attending the hearing wore their support for what will be the state’s first copper/nickel/precious metals mine on their garments, with stickers backing PolyMet.
RAMS initiates trip to lobby Washington
Mesabi Daily News
Bill Hanna
A delegation of local officials will travel to Washington this week to meet with federal officials Wednesday and emphasize that Gov. Mark Dayton does not speak for the Iron Range when it comes to the issuance of state and federal land leases.
The trip is in response to the governor’s recent declaration that leases on state land will no longer be issued. That declaration directly impacts the Twin Metals project near Ely and Babbitt.
Public meeting set on PolyMet permits
Duluth News Tribune
Staff
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will host a public information meeting April 19 in Aurora on PolyMet Mining’s expected application for a state mining permit.
The meeting, set to be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in the Mesabi East High School, is the first step in the DNR’s effort to draft permit details.
Read more: http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/business/3989383-public-meeting-set-polymet-permits
St. Paul, Minnesota (March 10, 2016) – Jobs for Minnesotans today released the following statement in response to Governor Dayton’s letter to Twin Metals:
“Jobs for Minnesotans strongly opposes Governor Dayton’s recent refusal to allow the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to follow the established regulatory process for mineral exploration. Grounded in our trust of Minnesota’s extensive regulatory system and strengthened by our founding partners representing thousands of businesses and trade labor members across the state, we stand strong in support of providing access to state and federal mineral leases and lands to responsible companies like Twin Metals in pursuit of copper-nickel mining projects. We trust the rigorous process, based on science and modern technology, to protect our unique wilderness and ensure all state and federal environmental standards are met while advancing economic development that will benefit hardworking families in our state for generations.”
Jobs for Minnesotans, a coalition of business, labor and communities, was formed in 2012 to support statewide opportunities for job creation from proposed copper-nickel mining projects in Minnesota. For more information, visit jobsforminnesotans.org and follow @JobsforMN on Twitter and find us on Facebook.com/Jobs4MN.
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Duluth News Tribune
John Myers
“We are confident this document has thoroughly examined the important environmental topics and has addressed them,” Landwehr said. “I stand by the conclusions and the foundation of this report. … There hasn’t been a level of environmental review on anything in Minnesota like this before.”
Jon Cherry, PolyMet president and CEO, called the DNR decision “a historic event for Minnesota, the Iron Range and for PolyMet, clearing the path for permit applications required for construction.”