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.
Mesabi Daily News
Kelly Grinsteinner
A coalition of business, labor and community leaders, Jobs for Minnesotans members are committed to advancing job creation through responsible copper-nickel mining in Minnesota.
“Jobs for Minnesotans was created to educate and provide information about the direct and spin-off job creation that copper-nickel mining can produce for the state, and create a platform for individuals and organizations to speak up in support of mining,” explained Norr. “This coalition gives a strong voice for the people who support responsible mining — and the positive economic impact mining projects will create for future generations of Minnesota families.”
JOBS FOR MINNESOTANS STATEMENT ON RELEASE OF PRELIMINARY FINAL EIS FOR POLYMET’S NORTHMET PROJECT
St. Paul, Minnesota (June 23, 2015) – Yesterday’s release of the preliminary final environmental impact statement (EIS) for PolyMet Mining’s NorthMet project is an important milestone for the state of Minnesota. The more than 55,000 union members and thousands of business leaders statewide who are a part of Jobs for Minnesotans are encouraged that the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has been able to review the more than 58,000 public comments submitted last year and incorporate this public feedback into the preliminary final EIS.
“This is an enormous accomplishment on the part of the DNR,” said Nancy Norr, Jobs for Minnesotans board chair. “The environmental review process for the NorthMet project has been extremely thorough, and we have the utmost respect for the careful work the DNR, the U.S. Forest Service, Army Corps of Engineers and all the cooperating regulatory agencies have done to ensure a safe and responsible project is brought to life that will bring jobs that sustain the continued economic recovery of the state. It’s time to keep moving this project forward.”
“Minnesota has the opportunity to be a leader throughout the world in the responsible development of copper, nickel and platinum group metals,” continued Norr. “Jobs for Minnesotans fully supports the NorthMet project and other projects that are still in the early stages of development, as well as the economic benefits these projects can bring to our state. Thousands of jobs in various industries would allow our families to flourish and provide high-quality career choices for future generations.”
The final steps in the environmental review process for PolyMet’s NorthMet project include the completion of the final EIS and an adequacy decision and records of decision, which are expected by the end of 2015.
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Jobs for Minnesotans was co-founded in October 2012 by Harry Melander of the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council representing 55,000 workers and the late David Olson of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce representing 2,300 companies and 500,000 employees. This coalition represents businesses, middle class workers, labor, local governments and other supporters of job creation in the state of Minnesota. Jobs for Minnesotans was created to educate and provide information about the direct and ancillary job creation that the strategic metals mining can produce for the state.
Media Contact
Nancy Norr
nnorr@mnpower.com
Office: 218.723.3905
Cell: 218.590.6978