PolyMet Support Visible on Range
Mesabi Daily News
Jerry Burnes
With a few hundred in attendance, local officials handed out PolyMet signs and rallied supporters during a loosely-organized pep rally at the Aurora Community Center. Students from Mesabi East High School marched together down the street to the ceremony, carrying a large “We support mining” banner as the Iron Range looked to stand together against the environmental protest at the state capital.
Reader’s view: PolyMet can mine while protecting environment
Duluth News Tribune
Opinion: Adam Christensen
Consider the following: 10 years of science and evaluation, a 3,100-page document that says the [PolyMet] project can meet the law, and a huge cadre of involved state and federal regulators that have strictly followed an arduous process. All of it shows that the PolyMet project can and should move forward.
The project will create desperately needed jobs in our area while protecting our environment at the same time. It’s a win for everyone, especially my generation.
Local view: Leave PolyMet water modeling to experts
Duluth News Tribune
Opinion: Chris Vreeland
Federal and state regulators hold new mine proposals to extremely high standards not seen in many other industries. In fact, the public is free to see just how stringent the process is by accessing the 3,100-page environmental impact statement that has been 10 years in the making by these regulators.
PolyMet “pleased” with EPA letter
Mesabi Daily News
Bill Hanna
PolyMet CEO and Director Jon Cherry says the company is “very pleased” with a letter from the Environmental Protection Agency on the Preliminary Final Environmental Impact Statement for the state’s first copper/nickel/precious metals mine near Hoyt Lakes.
“We’re proud of how we’ve been handling this. We are pleased with the final PEIS,” Cherry said in a telephone interview with the Mesabi Daily News.
Modern mining is no threat to Minnesota
Star Tribune
Opinion: Frank Ongaro (Mining Minnesota)
To protect our safety and the environment, regulations applicable to the mining industry are continuously updated and improved. This enables both the mining of metals that are so vital to our modern lifestyle and the protection of our natural resources.
And, in Minnesota, it allows us to put people to work in a region that is hard-hit with taconite mining layoffs and where mining is a way of life. The proposed PolyMet mine near Hoyt Lakes would create 1,000 direct and spinoff jobs, along with an annual economic benefit to the region of $500 million — 25 times the amount recently requested by Gov. Mark Dayton for Lake Mille Lacs walleye relief.
Read more: http://www.startribune.com/modern-mining-is-no-threat-to-minnesota/322553111/
City Votes to Support PolyMet
Grand Rapids Herald-Review
Lisa Rosemore
The City of Grand Rapids officially supports the proposed PolyMet mining project near Hoyt Lakes.
In a unanimous vote during Monday’s regular council meeting, the Grand Rapids City Council passed a resolution of support for the nonferrous mining project.
DNR gives details on PolyMet review process
Mesabi Daily News
Bill Hanna
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has provided new details on the tasks remaining in the PolyMet copper/nickel/precious metals Environmental Impact Statement process.
The preliminary final EIS state-federal review for the nonferrous metals project near Hoyt Lakes began on June 22. The overall final process will go into February 2016.
MINE VII: He’s been through mining downturns — 5 times
Mesabi Daily News
Bill Hanna
“The changes and downturns in mining are coming at us much more quickly and the global competition is a big challenge. The rate of change — asymmetrical nature or way forces assemble — is new to our experience. We must meet it.”
Hodnik believes the PolyMet copper/nickel/precious metals project in the footprint of the former LTV Mine will be a big help to the Range economy, as will other nonferrous projects that could follow. Hodnik is on the PolyMet Board.
Mesabi Daily News
Opinion: Larry Cuffe Jr.
Our communities and our ways of life were molded over the years and exist today largely because of mining. That is as true today as it was yesterday.
Mining in Northeastern Minnesota will continue to be a force in the future and the major economic engine that helps our communities grow and prosper.
With one voice we must support it. With one voice we must promote it. With one voice we must embrace it. And with one voice we must defend it.
MINE VII: It is critical that we stay united
Mesabi Daily News
Opinion: Dave Lislegard
Mining, the lifeblood of our communities, is currently being threatened on many fronts. We’ve seen countless “jobs vs. environment” stories, all of which have become trite and tired. I can tell you without hesitation that we need to embrace opportunities when they come before us.
We on the Iron Range have been advocating for mining through the ups and downs for generations and we support all responsible mining. We’ve been engaged for a very long time and we must continue to be engaged in this current fight for mining, because if mining — the main economic engine of our region — fails, so do our communities. We need to focus on the tremendous potential for diversification on the Range through all mining-related opportunities.