WDIO TV
Staff
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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.”
St. Paul, Minn. (March 3, 2016) – The hardworking men and women who build and maintain our state and its industries, and the companies that are the backbone of our statewide economy are celebrating today. The state of Minnesota issued its Adequacy Decision for the PolyMet NorthMet Final Environmental Impact Statement. Deeming the review adequate, this decision is a landmark achievement for the project and a crucial step forward for copper-nickel mining in the state.
The decision confirms the PolyMet project can create hundreds of jobs and economic benefits for the state while protecting the environment. This milestone marks the end of more than 10 years of intensive independent review and analysis of the PolyMet project and paves the way for the state’s first copper-nickel mine.
“The state of Minnesota should be proud today to recognize the promise of economic opportunity this project brings to our communities,” said Harry Melander, president of the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council. “I’m thrilled to celebrate this milestone. The PolyMet project will usher in a new era of mining that will create millions of construction work hours in a region of our state that is hurting and in need of good paying jobs.”
“The Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Forest Service put forth exceptional dedication and due diligence in analyzing the Final Environmental Impact Statement,” said Doug Loon, president of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. “The review and analysis were accomplished in a thoughtful and deliberate process involving a wide range of stakeholders. This thorough process confirms that the project will create hundreds of jobs while protecting our critical natural resources.”
The Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council and the Minnesota Chamber work in partnership to support economic progress from copper-nickel mining opportunities in Minnesota. The Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council is 50,000 members strong and has represented unionized construction workers through leadership and advocacy for more than 60 years. The Minnesota Chamber is the state’s largest business advocacy organization representing 2,300 companies of all sizes and types across Minnesota and a half million employees.
The Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council and the Minnesota Chamber jointly formed Jobs for Minnesotans, a coalition of business, labor and communities 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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DNR: PolyMet EIS is adequate
Mesabi Daily News
Bill Hanna
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources on Thursday ruled that the Final Environmental Impact Statement for PolyMet’s NorthMet copper/nickel/precious metals mine project near Hoyt Lakes is adequate, which paves the way for permit application by the company.
The environmental review process is now complete for the first-ever nonferrous mine in Minnesota.
DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr said the process leading to the completion of the state’s EIS has been deliberative and thorough.