Duluth News Tribune
Opinion: Arik Forsman
The city of Duluth and surrounding communities have made progress toward a more stable economic atmosphere since my wife and I moved here nearly 10 years ago for college, but unemployment in our region is still higher than in some other areas. The layoff numbers keep increasing on the Iron Range, where my father, uncle and cousin are waiting to hear what’s happening next at the taconite mines where they work.
Fortunately, copper-nickel mining projects in the Duluth Complex, one of the world’s largest untapped sources of copper, nickel and other strategic metals, will supply hundreds of mining and spin-off jobs to the region.
Reader’s View: Range Mayors Stand with Nolan on Mining
Duluth News Tribune
Opinion: Ely Mayor Chuck Novak
(This letter also was signed by and is from Aurora Mayor Mary Hess, Babbitt Mayor Andrea Zupancich, Biwabik Mayor Jim Weikum, Chisholm Mayor Mike A. Jugovich, Embarrass Township Board Chairman Gene Wright, Eveleth Mayor Bob Vlaisavljevich, Gilbert Mayor Rob Kutsi, Grand Rapids Mayor Dale Adams, Hibbing Mayor Rick Cannata, Hoyt Lakes Mayor Mark Skelton, Keewatin Mayor William King, Mountain Iron Mayor Gary Skalko, Nashwauk Mayor Ben DeNucci, Tower Mayor Joshua Carlson, Virginia Mayor Larry Cuffe, and White Township Board Chairman Edward Kippely.)
This letter is in response to recent claims posited by a vocal minority about the future of mining in Northeastern Minnesota. As Iron Range mayors and township board chairmen, we represent the interests of Northeastern Minnesotans. We’re tired of people who represent the interests of St. Paul or other areas of the state pretending to know what is best for our region. We live and work in Northeastern Minnesota and take great pride in representing and preserving our Iron Range heritage. It is our responsibility to carry our respective communities into the future, to build on past successes and create opportunities for our children to thrive — and we do this unapologetically.
Read more: http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/letters/3730849-readers-view-range-mayors-stand-nolan-mining
Reader’s View: Nolan Leading on Jobs and the Environment
Duluth News Tribune
Opinion: Craig Olson
Reading the News Tribune’s April 7 editorial (Our View: “No apologies from Nolan on environment”) reminded me that Congressman Rick Nolan always has stated that we do not need to choose between jobs or the environment. This is a false choice, and Nolan’s leadership demonstrates his understanding of the complex issues we face.
Duluth News Tribune
Opinion: Kirk D. Haldorson
We need to either grow it or mine it if northern Minnesota is going to provide for future generations.
My parents raised six children, and all six went on to some sort of higher education — all because of one mining job.
All six children went on to get married, and all six children and their spouses currently live, work and pay state income taxes to Minnesota — all due to one mining job.
Power Costs a Threat to Range Mines
Hibbing Daily Tribune
Julis Van Susternen
Last Monday, a bill was introduced before the House Committee on Mining and Outdoor Recreation Policy which would seek to have energy-intensive industries, such as mining and manufacturing industries, to be able to negotiate the rates they pay for power to be more competitive.
Many industries pertinent to the Iron Range are known as “energy-intensive trade-exposed customers,” which implies that such businesses would be eligible for certain exemptions because of the nature of their service.
David Lislegard, Aurora city councilor and Jobs for Minnesotans advocate, said the bill allows for energy-intensive industries in the Iron Range to remain competitive, thus protecting the business from financial losses that could potentially lead to job cuts.
Kennecott Plans More Mining Exploration in Aitkin County
Duluth News Tribune
John Myers
Kennecott Exploration Company is expanding its search for copper in the Tamarack area of Aitkin County.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reported Thursday that Kennecott will begin exploration at 12 sites where it has leased exclusive rights to search for copper, nickel and other valuable metals.
According to a statement from the DNR, the company has proposed to complete a ground-based gravity or geophysical survey as opposed to drilling. The DNR describes the gravity survey as “a non-invasive measurement using a sensor of the size of a large coffee pot to passively measure the earth’s gravity field.”
Hands-on Industrial Education at Mesabi Range College
Hibbing Daily Tribune
Angie Riebe
Sean Pelkey recalls helping his dad with rudimentary welding projects in his garage when he was just 7 years old.
The Mesabi Range Welding program student today plans to open a “small-time repair and fabrication shop out of my own garage.”
But he is also working as a “temp to hire” at Joy Global, Inc., in Virginia, a company that services the mining industry’s heavy equipment.
Pelkey and many of his fellow students in the college’s Welding, Industrial Mechanical Technology (millwright), and Process Automation Systems programs will be part of a workforce that is either directly or indirectly related to mining.
Career Path in Mining Country: ‘I Can Do That’
Mesabi Daily News
Angie Riebe
Bryan Harp grew up in Aurora, the son of a miner.
It was never his own dream to go into mining. Yet, his career path has been tied to the industry for years.
He thoroughly enjoys his current work.
It’s work that, in fact, at one time he didn’t even know existed.
Mining and Higher Education
Hometown Focus
Jean Cole
High schools students in the region who are interested in exploring career options in mining and mining-related fields can do so through the Applied Learning Institute (ALI). ALI is a partnership between the five community colleges of the Northeast Higher Education District (NHED) and 22 northeast Minnesota high schools whose purpose is to return and expand technical education opportunities in our high schools.
It’s an opportunity for secondary students to explore a career path, and earn college credit, while still in high school. ALI has six program areas, but we’re talking mining here today, so I’m focusing on their Industrial Technology program.
Read more: http://www.hometownfocus.us/news/2015-02-20/Mining_Features/MINING_and_HIGHER_EDUCATION_003.html
PEIS Consideration Was Waste of Time
Mesabi Daily News
Editorial
The proposed Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the Superior National Forest because of copper/nickel/precious metals mining projects was an incredible waste of time brought to everyone by extreme environmentalists.
While we are pleased that U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Department of Agriculture officials finally put a stamp of common sense on this issue by saying there is no need for such a far-reaching environmental impact study, here’s what they should have also said to the environmentalists who sought it: “Why are you wasting our time and money to even have to consider this. It’s a frivolous request.”
The PEIS would have been a duplication of what is already being done as far as an environmental impact statement for the PolyMet project near Hoyt Lakes and what will be done for the nonferrous Twin Metals project near Ely and Babbitt.