St. Paul, Minn. (December 18, 2023) – Jobs for Minnesotans released the below statement following today’s release of the decision from the Minnesota Court of Appeals related to NewRange Copper Nickel’s NorthMet Project’s air emissions permit issued by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA):
“The Minnesota Court of Appeals made the right decision in upholding NewRange Copper Nickel’s air permit for the NorthMet project. The court’s decision affirms our confidence in regulatory agencies, including the MPCA, and in the ability to both promote responsible mining activities and safeguard our environment.
“The court’s determination, as outlined in its decision, emphasizes any potential expansion of the NorthMet project would require new permitting and maintains no relevance to NorthMet’s existing air-emissions permit.
“The NewRange NorthMet project will provide 360 family-sustaining jobs to northeast Minnesota and contribute to securing a domestic source of metals needed for clean energy technologies in a location where mining projects are held to the highest environmental and labor standards in the world.
“Jobs for Minnesotans remains committed to supporting projects that adhere to the highest environmental standards, and we believe that, through continuous collaboration with regulatory agencies, the NorthMet project can contribute to the responsible development of needed minerals.”
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 70,000 workers and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce representing 2,300 members and 500,000 employees. For more information, visit jobsforminnesotans.org, follow @JobsforMN on Twitter or LinkedIn and find the coalition on Facebook.com/Jobs4MN.
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