Mesabi Daily News
Bill Hanna

Those in the media and opponents of the PolyMet copper/nickel/precious metals project who continue to say the Iron Range is split in opinion on the venture should have a different assessment if they attended Tuesday’s public hearing on the permitting process.

The overwhelming majority of the estimated 450 people attending the hearing wore their support for what will be the state’s first copper/nickel/precious metals mine on their garments, with stickers backing PolyMet.

Read more: http://www.virginiamn.com/news/local/polymet-support-overwhelming/article_b9ab3508-06ab-11e6-a320-c7c3cea72d42.html

Mesabi Daily News
Bill Hanna

A delegation of local officials will travel to Washington this week to meet with federal officials Wednesday and emphasize that Gov. Mark Dayton does not speak for the Iron Range when it comes to the issuance of state and federal land leases.

The trip is in response to the governor’s recent declaration that leases on state land will no longer be issued. That declaration directly impacts the Twin Metals project near Ely and Babbitt.

Read more: http://www.virginiamn.com/news/local/rams-initiates-trip-to-lobby-washington/article_ed7b5552-043a-11e6-b176-bb962be5ae64.html

Duluth News Tribune
Staff

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will host a public information meeting April 19 in Aurora on PolyMet Mining’s expected application for a state mining permit.

The meeting, set to be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in the Mesabi East High School, is the first step in the DNR’s effort to draft permit details.

Read more: http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/business/3989383-public-meeting-set-polymet-permits

St. Paul, Minnesota (March 10, 2016) – Jobs for Minnesotans today released the following statement in response to Governor Dayton’s letter to Twin Metals:

“Jobs for Minnesotans strongly opposes Governor Dayton’s recent refusal to allow the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to follow the established regulatory process for mineral exploration. Grounded in our trust of Minnesota’s extensive regulatory system and strengthened by our founding partners representing thousands of businesses and trade labor members across the state, we stand strong in support of providing access to state and federal mineral leases and lands to responsible companies like Twin Metals in pursuit of copper-nickel mining projects. We trust the rigorous process, based on science and modern technology, to protect our unique wilderness and ensure all state and federal environmental standards are met while advancing economic development that will benefit hardworking families in our state for generations.”

Jobs for Minnesotans, a coalition of business, labor and communities, was formed in 2012 to support statewide opportunities for job creation from proposed copper-nickel mining projects in Minnesota. For more information, visit jobsforminnesotans.org and follow @JobsforMN on Twitter and find us on Facebook.com/Jobs4MN.

###

Duluth News Tribune
John Myers

“We are confident this document has thoroughly examined the important environmental topics and has addressed them,” Landwehr said. “I stand by the conclusions and the foundation of this report. … There hasn’t been a level of environmental review on anything in Minnesota like this before.”

Jon Cherry, PolyMet president and CEO, called the DNR decision “a historic event for Minnesota, the Iron Range and for PolyMet, clearing the path for permit applications required for construction.”

Read more: http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/iron-range/3978616-minnesota-dnr-rules-polymet-environmental-review-adequate