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

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 21^st 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

Mesabi Daily News
Bill Hanna

U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan will support a bill that would streamline the permitting process for mining of mineral resources such as copper/nickel/precious metals deposits on the eastern Iron Range.

The 8th District Democrat has received more than 200 calls on the issue, he said in a telephone interview on Tuesday. “It’ been fairly even.”

But the congressman cautioned that a victory for the bill in the House, which has a Republican majority, most likely will not translate into approval in the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats.

“They have not included the House Democrats in writing this bill. And they haven’t reached out to the Senate or White House,” Nolan said.

Read more: http://www.virginiamn.com/news/local/article_624a05ea-2013-11e3-ab84-001a4bcf887a.html

Mesabi Daily News
Bill Hanna

A kickoff event for MINE II was attended by about 100 people at Zimmy’s in Hibbing Thursday. MINE II will be the second of quarterly publications on the importance — past, present and into the future — of mining to the Iron Range.

MINE II will be published in the four papers on Wednesday, Oct. 30.

The word MINE, in bold, strong letters, was chosen for this ongoing project because the impact of mining in all of our lives and communities on the Iron Range is so huge. Mining is by far the major economic driver of the region.

Read more: http://www.virginiamn.com/news/local/article_0715c9f8-1c25-11e3-9396-001a4bcf887a.html

Hibbing Daily Tribune
Tony Potter

Known for its rich mining industry and history, the Iron Range economy is driven by its largest group of workers — miners.

The Iron Range Miners’ Expo Tool & Equipment Showcase, which starts today, focuses on the needs and interests of the miners.

“It’s for the miners,” said Debra McCauley, marketing and public relations for Minnesota Discovery Center (MDC). “It’s for employees to meet with distributors, mining companies and representatives. And it’s on the Iron Range — it’s where they live, work and play.”

The expo is free, and will be held at MDC from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12. A community reception sponsored by Aqua Power will be held from 4 to 9:30 p.m. today and feature exhibitors, networking and a happy hour.

Read more: http://www.hibbingmn.com/news/local/article_f57b1ff4-1a8a-11e3-b43d-0019bb2963f4.html

Hometown Focus
Dr. Kenneth Reid

Let’s start on a Monday morning. It’s 6:00 a.m. Time to get up!

Electricity to run your alarm clock comes through copper wires.

Copper comes from a copper mine. Copper sulfide minerals have to be concentrated to separate them from worthless minerals.

So, are minerals and mining important?

You betcha. Absolutely everything we depend on is either made from minerals or relies on minerals for its production and distribution.

Read more: http://www.hometownfocus.us/news/2013-09-06/Features/The_Importance_of_Minerals_and_Mining.html

Hometown Focus
Terry Jackson

Expansion of mining-related business outside the Range area provides stability within the Iron Range economy. As mining on the Iron Range developed, many spin-off businesses began to provide services and products to support the mining industry. Mining industry fluctuations resulted in many of these businesses expanding into other states and countries.

Congressman Rick Nolan recognizes the impact this has on jobs, growth and prosperity in Minnesota and across the nation. “The national and international growth of so many businesses originally born to serve the mining industry demonstrates once again how central and critical mining is to jobs and the quality of life they bring all across the Range,” said Nolan in an email exchange on the topic. “Quite frankly, it’s impossible to over-estimate the importance of a healthy mining industry as an economic driver for future generations of entrepreneurs who will create good paying middle class jobs and fuel the demand for goods and services throughout northern Minnesota.”

The Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB) plays an instrumental role in sustaining this growth. The Board works in conjunction with other state and federal agencies to connect local businesses with outside resources that can help identify what markets or other potential business opportunities could be available. Loans or loan guarantees for companies attempting to expand their business outside our region are also available.

Read more: http://www.hometownfocus.us/news/2013-09-06/Features/Local_exporters.html

Minerals Make Life

Minnesota is home to one of the largest undeveloped mineral deposits in the world, including copper, nickel, palladium, gold and more, which are vital to the production of hand-held electronics, advanced energy technology and hybrid vehicles – just to name a few.

These resources also offer Minnesota a unique economic opportunity. The Twin Metals Minnesota Duluth Complex could create jobs for generations: more than 5,000 construction jobs in addition to 1,300 full-time positions. And the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average annual wage for a Minnesota mining job is roughly $72,000, more than $25,000 higher than the all-industries average. Plus, the project will also generate tax and royalty revenue for state and local governments.

Recently, Hal Quinn, National Mining Association’s president and CEO, and Bob McFarlin, vice president of public and government affairs at Twin Metals Minnesota, took some time to discuss the project with the End of Road morning show on WELY 94.5 FM.

Read more: http://mineralsmakelife.org/blog/details/hal-quinn-discusses-twin-metals-with-wely-radio-in-minnesota

Star Tribune
Opinion: W.W. Bednarczyk

You want the jobs? The tax revenue? Or what?

It gets tiring to hear discussion of only the same old partisan arguments (“DFL leaders lay out agenda for session,” Aug. 30). May I submit that both parties get creative and think about an agenda item that supports new tax revenues and job creators instead of tax increases on existing revenue generators.

We as Minnesotans have a rare opportunity to unite and rally our representatives (state and federal) to give their political weight to PolyMet Mining in northeastern Minnesota. This should be nonpartisan and a no-brainer! No tax money, taxpayer financial risk or partner vetting, as with the Vikings stadium. All private investment and investor risk.

Read more: http://www.startribune.com/opinion/letters/221865591.html?page=1&c=y