St. Paul, Minn. (January 24, 2022) – Jobs for Minnesotans released the below statement following today’s news the Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled in PolyMet and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s (MPCA) favor in six of the seven issues that were challenged:
“Jobs for Minnesotans is pleased with today’s ruling by the Minnesota Court of Appeals regarding the PolyMet NorthMet project’s water discharge permit. We appreciate the Court’s strong affirmation that the MPCA permit for PolyMet is protective of Minnesota’s waters. The extensive scientific record of the project prevailed yet again and the environmental review process was upheld.
“It’s now time to move PolyMet forward. On the one issue remanded back to the MPCA, which arose from a U.S. Supreme Court precedent-setting ruling made more than a year after the permit was issued, we encourage the agency to move quickly to address the matters identified by the Court.
“Mining opponents are running out of legal challenges and appeal options for the PolyMet project. Every Court decision that has so far reached final conclusion has been in PolyMet’s favor. The scientific record for the project has proved that we can both mine these metals safely and protect the environment.
“This is another positive step forward and we encourage all supporters to remain strong and hopeful as we look forward to the construction of this project. This ruling moves the state’s first copper-nickel-precious metal mine one big step closer to reality and Minnesota one step closer as a major U.S. supplier of critical minerals needed to meet aggressive U.S. carbon reduction goals.”
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 and find the coalition on Facebook.com/Jobs4MN.
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Media Contact: Brian Hanson, Board Chair
brian@apexgetsbusiness.com
218.730.7330