WDIO TV
Staff
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They stood together, representing business, the trades, cities, counties, and legislative districts. And the leaders on the Range want the U.S. Forest Service to know, they are not happy about the agency’s stance on the Twin Metals project.
“They’ve changed the rules, and to add insult to injury, they’re holding a public hearing in Duluth. Which is not convenient and not accessible to the majority of Iron Range residents who live here, and will be directly impacted if the mine comes to fruition,” said Steve Giorgi, executive director of RAMS.
Congressman Rick Nolan has been outspoken and critical of the Forest Service since the statement was issued. He and Senators Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar have sent a letter to the agency, requesting a public listening session on the Iron Range.
Read More: http://www.wdio.com/TWIM/mining-twin-metals-environment-forest-service-iron-range/4183573/
Star Tribune
Steve Karnowski
A company that wants to build an underground copper-nickel mine near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northeastern Minnesota criticized the U.S. Forest Service on Tuesday for saying it may deny renewal of the mineral leases needed for the $2.8 billion project near Ely.
Twin Metals Minnesota said the Forest Service’s statement “suggests a disturbing predisposition or bias” against renewing the leases even before the federal agency opens a 30-day public comment period next Monday. The company said it’s “evaluating all options” to protect its property and due process rights, and says it’s entitled to renew the two leases, which were first issued in 1966 and last renewed in 2004.
Read More: http://www.startribune.com/copper-mine-developer-fires-back-against-us-forest-service/382991171/
NorthMet mine should be allowed to proceed
MinnPost
Bryn Howe, Minnetonka Middle School East
Our class has been learning about plans to open a new mine in Minnesota, and the pros and cons of that proposed mine. In my opinion, PolyMet should be permitted to open this new mine (called NorthMet) in Minnesota. PolyMet, a mining company, is interested in becoming the first company to mine copper, nickel, and other precious metals in northeastern Minnesota, or more specifically, the Duluth Complex, an area rich in minerals that borders the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA).
Read more: https://www.minnpost.com/letters/2016/05/northmet-mine-should-be-allowed-proceed
PolyMet support overwhelming
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.
RAMS initiates trip to lobby Washington
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.