St. Paul, Minn. (Feb. 3, 2020) – Jobs for Minnesotans today released the following statement following the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) decisions regarding the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), certificate of need and route permit for the Line 3 Replacement Project:
“We applaud today’s decision from the MPUC to approve the revised EIS, certificate of need and route permit for the Line 3 Replacement Project following multiple environmental reviews and numerous opportunities for public comment. This project is the most thoroughly reviewed in Minnesota history, and it is time we come together as a state to advance safe energy transportation.
“As leaders in business, labor and communities, we appreciate that this advancement in the process brings us closer to putting thousands of skilled tradespeople to work here at home in Minnesota, creating more than $2 billion in economic impact in northeastern Minnesota communities and enhancing the safety of our environment for generations to come.”
About Jobs for Minnesotans
Jobs for Minnesotans, a coalition representing business, labor and communities, supports statewide opportunities for prosperity and middle-class jobs from sustainable natural resource development in Minnesota. The organization is committed to the principle that our state can preserve both job opportunities and the environment for future generations. Jobs for Minnesotans was co-founded in 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. For more information, visit jobsforminnesotans.org, follow @JobsforMN on Twitter and find the coalition on Facebook.com/Jobs4MN.
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Media Contact: Nancy Norr, Board Chair
nnorr@mnpower.com
218.590.6978
St. Paul, Minn., January 16, 2020 – Jobs for Minnesotans released the following statement following the bill introduced by U.S. Representative Betty McCollum yesterday:
“U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum’s proposed legislation is a back-door attempt to block even the consideration of copper-nickel mining projects across a vast area of northeastern Minnesota, giving enormous power to federal politicians at the expense of federal and state regulators charged with conducting rigorous scientific and legal review of proposed projects. Enacting this legislation into law would deal a stunning blow to a region whose people cherish and work to protect the outdoors, including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, but also deserve the opportunity to pursue economic development that would create thousands of well-paying jobs lasting for decades.
“It’s worth noting the economic disparities between the bill’s co-signers and the actual region it impacts. Constituents in Ramsey and Hennepin counties represented by Reps. McCollum and Phillips respectively enjoy incomes averaging $10,000 to $20,000 higher than residents of St. Louis County where these mineral deposits exist. All Minnesotans deserve the right to explore economic opportunities most relevant to their region while also protecting the environment.
“Jobs for Minnesotans members – leaders in business, labor organizations and communities across the state of Minnesota – believe any mining proposal should be thoroughly reviewed under existing law that has been in place for decades and there is no justification for discriminatory treatment of copper-nickel mining.”
About Jobs for Minnesotans
Jobs for Minnesotans, a coalition representing business, labor and communities, supports statewide opportunities for prosperity and middle-class jobs from sustainable natural resource development in Minnesota. The organization is committed to the principle that our state can preserve both job opportunities and the environment for future generations. Jobs for Minnesotans was co-founded in 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. For more information, visit jobsforminnesotans.org, follow @JobsforMN on Twitter and find the coalition on Facebook.com/Jobs4MN.
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Media Contact: Nancy Norr, Chair
nnorr@mnpower.com
218.590.6978
St. Paul, Minn., January 16, 2020 – Jobs for Minnesotans today released the following statement following PolyMet’s announcement today they will appeal the Minnesota Court of Appeals ruling on its NorthMet project’s dam safety permit and permit to mine:
“Jobs for Minnesotans firmly stands behind PolyMet’s decision to appeal the Minnesota Court of Appeals rulings on the NorthMet project’s permits to the Minnesota Supreme Court. We believe this project should move forward and the more than 10 years of thorough environmental review by state and federal agencies should be upheld. The rulings from earlier this week will have a much larger impact than just to the PolyMet project, but will create a ripple effect for any future project from responsible industries looking to do business in the State of Minnesota. The message this decision sends to Northeastern Minnesota communities, businesses across the state and the impact on the state’s economy long-term warrants the Minnesota Supreme Court’s close attention.”
About Jobs for Minnesotans
Jobs for Minnesotans, a coalition representing business, labor and communities, supports statewide opportunities for prosperity and middle-class jobs from sustainable natural resource development in Minnesota. The organization is committed to the principle that our state can preserve both job opportunities and the environment for future generations. Jobs for Minnesotans was co-founded in 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. For more information, visit jobsforminnesotans.org, follow @JobsforMN on Twitter and find the coalition on Facebook.com/Jobs4MN.
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Media Contact: Nancy Norr, Chair
nnorr@mnpower.com
218.590.6978
St. Paul, Minn. (Jan. 13, 2020) – Jobs for Minnesotans today released the following statement addressing the Minnesota Court of Appeals decisions regarding the dam safety permit and permit to mine for the PolyMet NorthMet Project:
“We are deeply disappointed by today’s decision from the Minnesota Court of Appeals, which creates uncertainties for the PolyMet NorthMet project and consequently hundreds of jobs for northeast Minnesota. While litigation is now an expected part of the regulatory review process and this ruling is a setback, we are confident that PolyMet will bring a safe and responsible copper-nickel mining industry to our state while also protecting the environment.
“We encourage PolyMet to pursue all avenues to move this project forward and will stand strong with our members and allies – leaders in businesses, labor organizations and communities across the state – who believe this project is right for Minnesota. We ask supporters to remain resilient and to work collectively to advocate for responsible industries.
“Minnesotans need to be mindful of the ethical dimensions of sourcing critical copper, nickel and platinum group metals that power our standard of living and the green economy. The state of Minnesota has one of the most thorough environmental review processes in the country, if not the world. Mining for these minerals here with these extremely high labor and environmental standards will ensure they are mined safely and responsibly, as opposed to importing from a country with standards of which we have no control.
“We continue to look forward to the approximately 360 family-supporting jobs this project will bring to northeastern Minnesota communities and we are encouraged by the new positions that PolyMet has already filled in our region. This project will generate an estimated $515 million annually to energize a more diverse regional and statewide economy.”
About Jobs for Minnesotans
Jobs for Minnesotans, a coalition representing business, labor and communities, supports statewide opportunities for prosperity and middle-class jobs from sustainable natural resource development in Minnesota. The organization is committed to the principle that our state can preserve both job opportunities and the environment for future generations. Jobs for Minnesotans was co-founded in 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. For more information, visit jobsforminnesotans.org, follow @JobsforMN on Twitter and find the coalition on Facebook.com/Jobs4MN.
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Media Contact: Nancy Norr, Chair
nnorr@mnpower.com
218.590.6978
Twin Metals Submits Formal Plans for Mine Near the Boundary Waters
Minnesota Public Radio
Dan Kraker
The documents, submitted to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, lay out in detail how Twin Metals plans to mine copper, nickel and precious metals deep beneath the Superior National Forest.
[…]
The official project submission triggers the start of the environmental review process, in which state and federal regulators will analyze in detail how the company proposes to mine and how it plans to mitigate its environmental impacts.
[…]
Twin Metals chief regulatory officer Julie Padilla estimates that environmental review and permitting could take five to seven years. The environmental review creates the source documents for the permitting process — the final stage in which state and federal officials decide whether to grant the permits the mine would need to open.
The following statement is in support of Twin Metals Minnesota’s entering the regulatory process for permits to mine copper, nickel and platinum group metals in northeast Minnesota. It has been signed by a statewide group of more than 60 business, labor and community organizations and local government leaders. These signers represent employers of hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans, over 80,000 members of the state’s leading building trade unions and the unified voice of the Iron Range, including 18 mayors of Iron Range cities.
Click here to view and download the full statement and logos from brands which have signed on.
Our View: Review Processes Prove Effective Again
Duluth News Tribune
Editorial Board
It’s reassuring when we see such processes proving effective — just as intended. That’s particularly true in this instance. Replacing an aging Line 3 oil pipeline across northern Minnesota will protect the environment, help to preserve our nation’s energy independence, and generate hundreds of millions of dollars of economic impact for all the Northland.
St. Paul, Minn. (Dec. 9, 2019) – Jobs for Minnesotans released the following statement regarding the Minnesota Department of Commerce report to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on spill modeling for Enbridge’s Line 3 Replacement Project:
“We welcome the release of the Minnesota Department of Commerce revisions to the proposed Enbridge Line 3 Replacement Project Environmental Impact Statement. This analysis was a ‘worst-case scenario’ requirement by the appeals court to be added to an otherwise acceptable environmental impact statement, and confirms that in the unlikely case of a breach the Line 3 replacement segment does not introduce risk to Lake Superior. This finding should finally pave the way for approving the Line 3 Replacement Project.
“This project is the most thoroughly reviewed project in Minnesota history, and the PUC has consistently agreed it deserves to move forward. We look forward to seeing this project, and the jobs and benefits it will bring to our communities, come to life for the betterment of our state.”
About Jobs for Minnesotans
Jobs for Minnesotans, a coalition representing business, labor and communities, supports statewide opportunities for prosperity and middle-class jobs from sustainable natural resource development in Minnesota. The organization is committed to the principle that our state can preserve both job opportunities and the environment for future generations. Jobs for Minnesotans was co-founded in 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. For more information, visit jobsforminnesotans.org, follow @JobsforMN on Twitter and find the coalition on Facebook.com/Jobs4MN.
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Media Contact: Nancy Norr, Chair
nnorr@mnpower.com
218.590.6978
Our View: Twin Metals Poised to Prove It’s Responsible
Duluth News Tribune
Editorial Board
Twin Metals has been working for 10 years and has invested $450 million-and-counting to develop a better way, a safer way, and an environmentally friendly way to extract the strategic minerals the world needs and is getting now via sometimes-dangerous and too-often-unscrupulous means.
“We have the potential to reignite industry (in the Ely area, providing) opportunities for people to stay here, to raise families here, and to fill up the schools again. So it’s really important to us,” said Dean DeBeltz, Twin Metals’ director of operations and safety. “It’s a very significant economic-development project not only for this area but for Minnesota as a whole.”
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: New Line 3 Will Benefit Minnesota
Bemidji Pioneer
Mike Pulczinski
The benefits for our state if this project is awarded are many.
The jobs for the community will be about 8,600 and about 6,500 will all be local. About $162 million in economic impact will profit local businesses, through supermarkets, hotels, gas stations and local construction material.