Uncategorized - Jobs For Minnesotans

Good News for PolyMet

March 14, 2014

The PolyMet copper/nickel/precious metals project near Hoyt Lakes and Babbitt got some good news from the Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday.

The EPA, on the same day that the three-month public comment period on it for its supplemental draft environmental impact statement concluded, issued a EC-2 rating for that document dealing with the company’s NorthMet project.

The EPA finding received high praise from PolyMet officials.

An Extraordinary Opportunity

March 13, 2014

Pioneer Press
Opinion: Dave Semerad

As CEO of Associated General Contractors of Minnesota, and writing for the state’s oldest and largest construction trade association, AGC believes the PolyMet project represents an extraordinary opportunity for all Minnesotans.

This project will infuse economic vitality into communities that understand and embrace the importance of clean air and water, and the conservation of our forests, wildlife and countryside.

Polymet and Nature Can Coexist, So Let’s Get That Permit Approved

March 12, 2014

Duluth News Tribune
Opinion: Nancy Norr

In my 25 years of experience as an economic-development professional, I’ve never come across an opportunity as important to Northeastern Minnesota’s economic future as copper-nickel mining. A significant economic base for this region is and will remain mining. The growth of this industry is critical to the long-term success of the region and will support a way of life for generations to come. The economic opportunity stretches from the environmental technician at the mine site in Hoyt Lakes to the engineering professionals in downtown Duluth.

PolyMet Mining’s proposed NorthMet project represents a continuation of our strong mining tradition. As the public comment period for the project’s Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement comes to a close, we are one step closer to bringing 360 full-time mining jobs to the Iron Range and more than 600 spinoff jobs in other industries.

These are career opportunities our young people need to support families. Too often in greater Minnesota we see empty storefronts, classrooms and industrial parks. Longtime residents are forced to move their families out of town to find work. This is the present, but it does not have to be the future; we can have thriving communities again.

Model Used in PolyMet SDEIS Sound; Let’s Get to Permitting

March 8, 2014

Grand Rapids Herald-Review
Opinion: Nancy Norr

After 25 years in economic development, I’ve never come across an opportunity as important to our region’s future as copper-nickel mining. The growth of this industry is critical to our long-term success and will support a way of life for generations to come.

As the public comment period for PolyMet’s Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement comes to a close, we are one step closer to bringing 360 full-time mining jobs to the Range and more than 600 spin-off jobs in other industries. These are career opportunities that our young people need to support families. In my travels in Northern Minnesota I still see too many empty storefronts and industrial parks. Without jobs, long-time residents are forced to move their families out of town to find work. This is the present, but it does not have to be the future – we can thrive again.

It’s Common Sense — Mining Is Good for All

March 1, 2014

Mesabi Daily News
Opinion: U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan

Common sense tells me Iron Range mining is good for our economy — achieving energy independence, creating jobs, and going “Green.”

The Duluth Complex and the Iron Range contain one of the largest untapped deposits of iron ore, copper, nickel, and other precious metals, on Earth.

Despite the rich deposits we have right here at home, we are still importing a third of all the copper used in America, and almost all of the nickel. That makes no sense.

New Generation of Mining Is Spark We Need

February 28, 2014

Mesabi Daily News
Opinion: Rep. Jason Metsa

Fortunately, we have an opportunity before us to forge a new, thriving economy on the Range — one that offers diverse, stable jobs that can’t be exported.

The untapped precious metals in our region — much like the natural resources my family benefitted from generations ago — will allow us to renew our position as a natural resource provider for the entire nation.

A new generation of mining is the spark we need to revitalize our regional economy right now and in the future. These companies require educated workers. They hire ecologists, environmentalists, geologists, chemists, and a slew of other professionals, and welders, electricians, millrights truck drivers and laborers to operate the new generation of stable and technological mining in Northeastern Minnesota.

Polymet Mine Environmental Review’s Comment Period Not Extended

February 27, 2014

Pioneer Press
Doug Belden

The comment period on an environmental review of what would be Minnesota’s first copper-nickel mine will not be extended past March 13, the state Department of Natural Resources said Thursday.

The DNR, along with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Forest Service, received requests to extend the comment period but concluded the 90 days allotted was sufficient, according to a letter from the three agencies. More than 19,000 comments have been submitted so far, officials said.

Minnesota Power’s CEO Al Hodnik

February 24, 2014

Mesabi Daily News
Bill Hanna

Hodnik was effusive in his support for the PolyMet venture, that is currently in the supplemental draft environmental impact statement public comment phase.

“We are lucky to be a mineral-rich area. Minnesotans should be proud of our copper/nickel/precious metals deposits,” he said.

Hodnik also said he “doesn’t doubt for a minute” that the project will be successfully completed and producing jobs and paychecks for workers. “This is about our way of life. So, let’s get it done,” he said.

Enough is Enough; Time to Mine

February 22, 2014

Mesabi Daily News
Opinion: Jim Hofsommer

Here’s a question to ponder: After going on 10 years and $80 million later, why doesn’t the PolyMet project we’ve been hearing so much about even have a permit yet? If things don’t speed up pretty soon, a whole generation of workers could have — and should have — been employed by this project will all be dead of old age.

Perhaps some of the warm, fuzzy responses given as testimony by a gaggle of Enrads (environmental radicals) at the recent hearings are an indication for these endless delays. This testimony — for, or against — was supposed to be a factual analysis of the latest Environmental Impact Statement was sufficient, but some of the comments bordered on the incredulous to downright comical.

For all these years we have heard repeated so many times the hundreds of good-paying jobs, the millions of hours of construction work and the lode of ore so abundant that it may be the largest deposit in the world, that many of us can repeat these statistics in our sleep. For many Rangers, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to provide a decent life and employment for hundreds of families, to keep our kids in the area, and to lower the unemployment rate of the Range — which has chronically been significantly higher than the rest of the state.

High Paying Mining Jobs Anchor the NE MN Labor Market

February 21, 2014

Hometown Focus
Jan Saxhaug

It’s no secret that mining is a critical industry to the economy of Northeastern Minnesota which is home to the Iron Range after all. Sitting atop vast deposits of iron ore and precious metals and strategically located near the Port of Duluth, the region has been able to develop the highly specialized infrastructure and workforce needed to take advantage of these rich natural resources.