Survey Backs Copper/Nickel
Mesabi Daily News
Bill Hanna
Mining, in all forms in Minnesota, has strong support, according to a survey commissioned by the Jobs for Minnesotans group.
“The bottom line is this: Minnesota voters support increased mining and are favorable towards the mining industry. While they rightfully care about protecting the environment, voters feel that the state’s existing regulatory system — including DNR approval for all new mining projects — is strong enough to ensure new copper/nickel projects will be done in an environmentally responsible way,” the Global Strategy Group, which did the survey and released the results on Monday, said in a news release.
“Overall, Minnesotans hold positive attitudes towards our state’s mining industry and the development of copper/nickel mining,” said Harry Melander, Jobs for Minnesotans board member and president of the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council.
“Minnesota has the opportunity to gain thousands of jobs through these mining projects. Support for copper/nickel mining not only demonstrates our state’s commitment to the mining industry but also the support for economic growth on the Iron Range and across the state.”
Survey Indicates Statewide Support for Mining
A new statewide survey, released today, indicates increased support for mining in Minnesota.
A majority of voters (56 percent) surveyed favor expanding Minnesota’s mining industry, with a plurality of voters (48 percent) supporting copper-nickel mining specifically. Only 22 percent of voters oppose copper-nickel mining while a third of voters (31 percent) don’t know enough about copper-nickel mining to say.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (Oct. 8, 2013) – Jobs for Minnesotans announced today the results of a new statewide survey showing increased support for mining in Minnesota.
A majority of voters (56 percent) favor expanding Minnesota’s mining industry, with a plurality of voters (48 percent) supporting copper-nickel mining specifically. Only 22 percent of voters oppose copper-nickel mining while a third of voters (31 percent) don’t know enough about copper-nickel mining to say.
“Overall, Minnesotans hold positive attitudes towards our state’s mining industry and the development of copper-nickel mining,” said Harry Melander, Jobs for Minnesotans board member and president of the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council. “Minnesota has the opportunity to gain thousands of jobs through these mining projects. Support for copper-nickel mining not only demonstrates our state’s commitment to the mining industry but also the support for economic growth on the Iron Range and across the state.”
Voters express confidence in regulations on the mining industry and respect the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) ability to oversee new mining projects. A majority (51 percent) of voters think that government regulations on the state’s mining industry should either remain the same (35 percent) or be made less strict (16 percent).
“Minnesotans’ confidence in the DNR’s ability to oversee copper-nickel mining projects is clear across regional and demographic groups in the state,” said David Olson, Jobs for Minnesotans board member and president of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. “Any new mining projects must demonstrate they will meet the standards and regulations put in place by federal and state agencies. While they care about protecting the environment, voters feel that these regulations are strong enough to ensure Minnesota’s environment will be protected as new mining projects develop.”
Copper-nickel mining projects are needed to provide the materials that are increasingly needed for every innovative technology or product that our economy produces. Producing raw materials in state allows Minnesota to produce the metals needed for the green economy with the strictest environmental and labor standards.
The survey was conducted by Global Strategy Group (GSG) and commissioned by Jobs for Minnesotans. The survey consisted of 603 interviews in Minnesota between September 2nd and 8th, 2013. An additional 200 interview oversample was conducted in Minnesota’s Iron Range region.
About Jobs for Minnesotans
Jobs for Minnesotans was co-founded in October 2012 by the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council representing 55,000 workers and 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.
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Media Contacts:
Nancy Norr
nnorr@mnpower.com
218.590.6978
Harry Melander
harstpbt@mtn.org
651.224.9446
Miners’ Expo at MDC Year Two was Even Bigger and Better
Hometown Focus
Deb McCauley and Scott Stein
The second annual Iron Range Miners’ Expo Tool & Equipment Showcase at the Minnesota Discovery Center (MDC) in Chisholm took a major step forward as a premier, regional event this year.
The two-day event, held September 11- 12, drew over 90 local, regional and national exhibitors. It also drew something equally important — an engaged crowd.
“This event was designed for the iron miners and leaders in this industry,” said MDC Executive Director Lisa Vesel. “We wanted to create an event that showcased the industry and gave Iron Rangers an opportunity to see and learn about the available and latest equipment and technology.”
Over 2,500 people attended the event, a nearly 70 percent increase over last year’s inaugural expo. The numbers are a sign that the event has gained traction inside the industry and from the regional community. However, we need to continue to reach out and build relationships with key stakeholders in the mining industry and regional communities to better serve their needs.
Opinion: Lawmaker’s View: PolyMet Will Revitalize Iron Range
Duluth News Tribune
Opinion: Senator Dave Brown
A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to tour the proposed PolyMet mine site near Hoyt Lakes. PolyMet would like to reopen a former taconite mine for copper and nickel. Not knowing much about the mining industry in general, I was curious about the new jobs, tax revenue and other opportunities that could be generated for the state.
The staff members at PolyMet are lifelong Iron Rangers proud of their northern Minnesota mining heritage. They are avid outdoors enthusiasts who enjoy hunting, fishing and frequent trips to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. PolyMet has put together an experienced mining staff with strong and loyal employees who represent the best of Minnesota.
Refurbishing the PolyMet site will cost about $475 million and take about 2 million working hours. This is about the same as building Target Field, the new baseball stadium in Minneapolis. New jobs will be for carpenters, laborers, operating engineers and teamsters. Once the buildings and equipment are repaired and refurbished, the plant will have about 360 jobs that will pay $26 to $32 per hour year-round, according to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. Over the 20-year life of this proposed project, it is estimated to generate $720 million in wages and benefits, $300 million in state and local government taxes and $10.3 billion for St. Louis County.
Obviously, all mining operations have environmental concerns. But as I noted earlier, many of the people currently working for PolyMet in Minnesota are Iron Rangers. I do not believe they would jeopardize their way of life and favorite pastimes.
Read more: http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/278933/
Opinion: Jobs for Minnesotans on Mining Opportunities in Northeast Minnesota
“We are confident that Minnesota’s new mines will be built in an environmentally responsible manner and more importantly, offering an unprecedented opportunity for Minnesota to build the green economy of the future,” said Harry Melander, president of the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council and co-founder of Jobs for Minnesotans.
“Why are we so confident? These projects will be reviewed by more than six federal and state agencies, including the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. They will literally be the “greenest” mines in the world because they will use 21st century technology and re-use Minnesota’s existing mining infrastructure,” Melander continued.
Read more: http://www.grandrapidsmn.com/opinion/article_53ef5232-222c-11e3-94bc-001a4bcf887a.html
Good News for Mining in Congress
Mesabi Daily News
Editorial
Two key Minnesota members of Congress stood up for mining on the Iron Range recently. We applaud their efforts in Washington.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar took on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ regarding their permitting process.
She urged the agency to speed up its permitting review for Minntac’s expansion project, which needs a hurry-up from federal officials.
Meanwhile, 8th District Democratic U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan supported a Republican-sponsored bill that would streamline the permitting process for rare earth minerals used in telecommunications, military technology, health care and energy.
That is vital to the Iron Range because PolyMet and Twin Metals copper/nickel/strategic metals projects would benefit.
New Group Jobs for Minnesotans Formed, Growing
Mesabi Daily News
Charles Ramsay
One of the main backers of a state group supporting more mining jobs in Northeastern Minnesota sees passage of H.R. 761 in the U.S. House as vital to the area’s economy.
“This is getting us one step further in creating job opportunities,” Jobs for Minnesotans co-founder Harry Melander said in a phone interview Thursday. He is president of the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council.
The group had mounted a campaign urging supporters of mining to call their elected officials to vote for the measure, the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2013, which would revise and streamline permitting for mining activities.
“We’re very appreciative of those who helped,” Melander said.
Read more: http://www.virginiamn.com/news/local/article_93fc2e1a-232e-11e3-8c9f-001a4bcf887a.html
Nolan, U.S. House Vote for Quicker Mining Permits
Duluth News Tribune
John Myers
U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan joined with other mining supporters Wednesday when the U.S. House passed legislation to streamline environmental permitting for mining projects on federal lands.
The bill, HF 761, called the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2013, passed the Republican-controlled House by a 246-178 vote.
The bill declares most new mining projects as strategic for the nation, speeds up the federal agency review process and restricts efforts to file lawsuits to stop such projects. The bill essentially sets a 30-month limit for environmental review and a 60-day limit for any challenges.
Read more: http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/278321/group/Business/
“We are confident that Minnesota’s new mines will be built in an environmentally responsible manner and more importantly, offering an unprecedented opportunity for Minnesota to build the green economy of the future,” said Harry Melander, president of the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council and co-founder of Jobs for Minnesotans.
“Why are we so confident? These projects will be reviewed by more than six federal and state agencies, including the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. They will literally be the “greenest” mines in the world because they will use 21st century technology and re-use Minnesota’s existing mining infrastructure,” Melander continued.
“Metals like copper and nickel are necessary to create a green economy that includes wind, solar and other alternative energies. By getting these metals right here in Minnesota, we can build the state’s and country’s role in the new, sustainable economy of the future, provide thousands of permanent jobs, and put billions in new tax revenues into Minnesota’s public schools.”
“These projects will boost the economy in the Iron Range region and have a significant impact statewide, investing hundreds of millions of dollars in our economy and providing a boon to Minnesota businesses and their employees,” added David Olson, president of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.
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Jobs for Minnesotans was co-founded in October 2012 by the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council representing 55,000 workers and 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:
Harry Melander
612-865-3585
harstpbt@mtn.org