Leaders call for support of a predictable, fair, and thorough regulatory process for mining projects that will create thousands of jobs and help secure U.S. domestic supply chains to combat the climate crisis

St. Paul, Minn. (October 21, 2021) – Next week, Minnesota labor, business and community leaders will travel to Washington, D.C. to advocate for the future economic prosperity of northeast Minnesota. State Representative Dave Lislegard (DFL-06B) of Aurora, Minn. will be joined by Ida Rukavina, executive director of the Range Association of Municipalities and Schools (RAMS); Brian Hanson, chair of Jobs for Minnesotans; and Jason George of International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 49.

The trip follows yesterday’s action by the Biden Administration to bar future mineral exploration, leases and development permits on approximately 225,000 acres of federally owned land in northeast Minnesota.

“Decision makers in D.C. need to hear from voices of those most affected by the future of mining in Minnesota – those who live and work here on the Iron Range,” said State Rep. Lislegard. “We have safely and responsibly mined in the region for more than 135 years, and we will continue to do so with non-ferrous projects. We now have the opportunity to make Minnesota a global leader in sourcing the minerals needed to combat the climate crisis.”

Northeast Minnesota is home to the world’s largest known undeveloped deposit of copper, nickel, cobalt and platinum group metals. The deposit contains approximately 95 percent of the known U.S. nickel reserves, 88 percent of U.S. cobalt reserves, 75 percent of U.S. platinum group metals supply and about a third of the U.S. copper supply. These are minerals needed for clean energy technologies like electric batteries, wind turbines, solar panels, etc.

“We live here and work here. Our future depends on minerals and mining and we have an obligation to make sure that minerals are mined the right way,” said Ida Rukavina of RAMS. “This decision by the Administration creates uncertainty for our mining companies, limiting job creation on the Iron Range and investment in our communities.”

The current Superior National Forest Plan, citing previous environmental studies and Congressional directive, includes mineral development as a “Desired Condition” within the Superior National Forest. The Forest Service has also stated that generic, or programmatic environmental reviews like the proposed mineral withdrawal study, are ineffective.

“We simply ask for mining projects to be treated fairly like any other industry doing business in this country and not be politicized,” said Brian Hanson of Jobs for Minnesotans. “Mining projects should be evaluated individually and be specific to their site, design and geology.”

Safely mining these metals here, domestically aligns with President Biden’s Build Back Better initiative, Infrastructure Plan, American Jobs plan and the executive order to better secure the supply chain of these critical minerals. It is paramount for the U.S. to have access to a secure, domestic source of these metals. Relying on foreign countries for critical minerals threatens U.S. economic security and our leadership in technology and innovation.

“As our nation shifts towards investment in wind, solar and electric vehicles, these minerals are required to make that transition and we are currently incredibly reliant on foreign sources,” said Jason George of the IUOE Local 49. “Continued dependency on foreign nations will only further exacerbate human rights and environmental justice issues. We can mine responsibly here while protecting workers and the environment.”

The demand for these minerals is increasing at an alarming rate. According to the World Bank, mining more than 3 billion tons of minerals and metals the world needs by 2050 is seen as the only path to limiting global warming by 2°C or less.

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.

About Range Association of Municipalities and Schools

Range Association of Municipalities and Schools (RAMS) represents more than 78,000 residents and 57 public sector units of government, including 27 cities, 16 public school districts and 14 townships, in the 13,000 square mile Taconite Assistance Area (TAA) of northeast Minnesota. As an organization, RAMS has represented the interests of the Iron Range region for over 80 years.

About IUOE Local 49

IUOE Local 49 represents more than 14,000 members across Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota in many different facets of the construction industry. We represent heavy equipment operators/mechanics and stationary engineers that work in building, road, highway and bridge construction; housing development; river dredging and port work; oil and natural gas pipeline construction and maintenance; mining; logging; wind and solar construction/maintenance; coal, nuclear, natural gas power plants; drilling; and several other industries. Our members are the most highly skilled workers in all the industries that they work in. We are active, we are mobilized, and we stand together.

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St. Paul, Minnesota (Oct. 20, 2021) – Jobs for Minnesotans released the following statement in response to action taken by the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management again announcing the withdraw of approximately 225,000 acres of federal land and minerals in northern Minnesota from future leasing and exploration and development activities:

“Jobs for Minnesotans is outraged by the Biden Administration’s arbitrary action to bar new mineral permits and leases on federally owned lands in northeast Minnesota. This action plays political football with the future of the region and sends a chilling message to hardworking Minnesotans who need the widespread economic benefits of mining in our state.

“This action contradicts the Biden administration’s commitments to address the climate crisis, shore up domestic supply chains and bolster American jobs. We cannot call for more electric vehicles and clean energy sources on one hand, and then shut out the domestic development of the very minerals needed to make this transition.

“Threatening to halt future developments in this vast region will cause the state to lose billions of dollars in potential revenues that support K-12 education across the state, as well as thousands of prospective jobs from future mining projects and associated spinoff employment. This action is devastating news for the economic wellbeing of our state.

“The withdrawal of federal minerals from future development is unnecessary and unlawful. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness has strict protections in place within its boundaries as well as buffer zones surrounding it where mining is prohibited. If this decision were based on science, the administration would rely on studying a site-specific project proposal. Every mine proposal is unique and specific to its leases, location and mining methods. Every geological deposit the proposal sits on is different.

“Federal agencies are ignoring the voices of those most affected by this drastic decision. Minnesota’s labor, business and community leadership will not stand down. We will make our voices heard.”

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

St. Paul, Minn. (October 4, 2021) – Jobs for Minnesotans released the following statement in response to the court-ordered action taken by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MDNR). Today, the agency issued a procedural order for a public process to determine the adequacy of the nonferrous mining rules:

“The existing rules require any nonferrous mining project proposed in Minnesota to prove it can operate safely without impacting the surrounding environment. Every mine proposal is unique and specific to its leases, location and mining methods. Every geological deposit the proposal sits on is different. We need to allow each project to be evaluated based on science and facts in a predictable and fair way through the regulations already in place.

“While we strongly defend the existing regulations in place for nonferrous mining, this action is another attempt to kill the mining industry in Minnesota. Those opposed to mining have failed to kill the industry through the legislative process, but instead are now trying to re-write regulations through the courts.

“Ultimately, we believe the rules will be deemed adequate yet again and this exercise is a giant waste of taxpayer dollars. This process also sets a precedence for any other regulated industries and deters investment and job creation in our state.

“This court order stems from a frivolous lawsuit from mining opponents who ignore the fact that the state’s nonferrous mining rules, which were developed over the course of three decades of comprehensive studies and public review, were upheld recently by the Minnesota Court of Appeals just in 2019.

“You cannot combat the climate crisis through green energy technologies like electric vehicles, solar panels or windmills without the minerals that are located in northeast Minnesota. We as a state cannot continue to shut out an industry in one breath and then expect to have the ability to make this critical clean energy transition in another.”

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

St. Paul, Minn. (September 29, 2021) – Today, Jobs for Minnesotans celebrates the significant milestone of Enbridge, Inc. announcing the substantial completion of the Line 3 Replacement Project construction. After six years of rigorous and thorough scientific regulatory review and nearly a year of construction, all the benefits from this $4 billion private investment in Minnesota’s infrastructure have been realized. From strengthening environmental protections along the corridor and securing safe energy transportation for our state, to providing an economic boost to greater Minnesota communities and employment to more than 5,000 union construction workers.

“Today is nothing short of a triumph for what we’ve been fighting for all along – a predictable, fair and thorough regulatory process that results in real jobs for Minnesotans and responsible investment in our communities,” said Brian Hanson, board chair of Jobs for Minnesotans.

The Line 3 project was the most studied pipeline project in Minnesota’s history, with input gathered from 71 public comment period meetings and over 3,500 community engagement meetings. Exhaustive scientific review exceeding legal and regulatory requirements resulted in support and project approvals from federal, state, and local agencies, and Native American tribes.

We also congratulate our member labor groups and communities along the right-of-way for making the successful completion of the project possible. The new Minnesota segment of Line 3 will be in operation starting Oct. 1, joins previously constructed replacement segments in Canada, North Dakota and Wisconsin and restores the full pipeline capacity to meet the energy needs of refineries in the Midwest.

Jobs for Minnesotans and its members commend Enbridge, the dedicated state agency Commissioners and professionals from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Commissioners along with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for fulfilling their responsibility to Minnesotans. And, for safely completing a project that was the best option to protect our communities and environment – replacing an aging pipeline on which the state relies.

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

St. Paul, Minn. (September 27, 2021) – Jobs for Minnesotans released the below statement following the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) initiating the contested case hearing process for the PolyMet NorthMet project’s permit to mine:

“Jobs for Minnesotans is pleased that the MDNR initiated the process for a limited-scope contested case hearing on PolyMet’s permit to mine. We applaud the MDNR directive calling for a narrowly scoped hearing in keeping with the Minnesota Supreme Court’s order. We are confident the 16-year scientific record from the thorough environmental review of the project will stand.

“Bentonite clay capping of the tailings basin at closure is the single subject of the hearing. Bentonite is an established, effective technology that has been used extensively in many mining and other applications such as landfills. We look forward to the hearing where science that was once included and never challenged in the state and federal Final Environmental Impact Statement will once again be presented and this time documented in the permit record. We call on the chief Administrative Law Judge to schedule and complete the hearing in a timely fashion as the contested case is one of the last remaining matters to be resolved before the permit to mine can be reissued.

The PolyMet NorthMet project is expected to provide 360 family-sustaining jobs to northeast Minnesota and be the first in Minnesota to mine metals needed for the growing demand of renewable energy, electric vehicles, and other climate change solutions. Now more than ever, it is critical we secure the ability to mine these metals domestically, where these projects are held to the highest environmental and labor standards in the world.”

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