Mesabi Daily News
Jerry Burnes 

With a few hundred in attendance, local officials handed out PolyMet signs and rallied supporters during a loosely-organized pep rally at the Aurora Community Center. Students from Mesabi East High School marched together down the street to the ceremony, carrying a large “We support mining” banner as the Iron Range looked to stand together against the environmental protest at the state capital.

Read more: http://www.virginiamn.com/news/local/polymet-support-visible-on-range/article_bf3170ee-7215-11e5-b08d-3be591be8d4f.html?_dc=236578576499.59625

Duluth News Tribune
Opinion: Adam Christensen

Consider the following: 10 years of science and evaluation, a 3,100-page document that says the [PolyMet] project can meet the law, and a huge cadre of involved state and federal regulators that have strictly followed an arduous process. All of it shows that the PolyMet project can and should move forward.

The project will create desperately needed jobs in our area while protecting our environment at the same time. It’s a win for everyone, especially my generation.

Read more: http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/letters/3852499-readers-view-polymet-can-mine-while-protecting-environment 

Duluth News Tribune
Opinion: Chris Vreeland

Federal and state regulators hold new mine proposals to extremely high standards not seen in many other industries. In fact, the public is free to see just how stringent the process is by accessing the 3,100-page environmental impact statement that has been 10 years in the making by these regulators.

Mesabi Daily News
Bill Hanna

PolyMet CEO and Director Jon Cherry says the company is “very pleased” with a letter from the Environmental Protection Agency on the Preliminary Final Environmental Impact Statement for the state’s first copper/nickel/precious metals mine near Hoyt Lakes.

“We’re proud of how we’ve been handling this. We are pleased with the final PEIS,” Cherry said in a telephone interview with the Mesabi Daily News.

Read more: http://www.virginiamn.com/news/local/polymet-pleased-with-epa-letter/article_974ee76a-51d5-11e5-8ef6-57e7d014e8b8.html

Star Tribune
Opinion: Frank Ongaro (Mining Minnesota)

To protect our safety and the environment, regulations applicable to the mining industry are continuously updated and improved. This enables both the mining of metals that are so vital to our modern lifestyle and the protection of our natural resources.

And, in Minnesota, it allows us to put people to work in a region that is hard-hit with taconite mining layoffs and where mining is a way of life. The proposed PolyMet mine near Hoyt Lakes would create 1,000 direct and spinoff jobs, along with an annual economic benefit to the region of $500 million — 25 times the amount recently requested by Gov. Mark Dayton for Lake Mille Lacs walleye relief.

Read more: http://www.startribune.com/modern-mining-is-no-threat-to-minnesota/322553111/