To the Region: Unite … Align … Endure
Mesabi Daily News
Opinion: Al Hodnik (ALLETE)
Magnetation, ESSAR and PolyMet provide clear evidence of the enduring nature of our natural resource based economy. Yet neither of these projects, existing mines or any others that could come, can be taken for granted. LTV standing idle 13 years later reminds us of that.
For our mining economy to continue, the region must speak up loudly, clearly and in unison for our way of life.
Underground Mining: Twin Metals Explores New Era
Mesabi Daily News
Bill Hanna
Twin Metals Minnesota officials have identified some sites for facilities in its first copper/nickel/precious metals mine plan in the Ely-Babbitt areas.
“No final decision has been made, these are preliminary for our first operation. But we believe some thoughts are mature enough to discuss with folks,” said Bob McFarlin, vice president of public and government affairs for the company.
McFarlin said the company plans other projects in the mineral-rich Duluth Complex, which would have the company in business on the Iron Range “well in excess of a century.”
County Board: No to PEIS
Mesabi Daily News
Bill Hanna
The St. Louis County Board voted 6-0 Tuesday for a resolution against a far-reaching Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the Superior National Forest at a meeting that turned rambunctious with outbursts by mining opponents.
The meeting drew about 70 people equally split on the issue.
County Commissioner Keith Nelson called for a break in the session for decorum and some police presence.
“I asked for law enforcement so that everyone would be treated with respect. I was concerned about the atmosphere in the room. All of them (copper/nickel/precious metals opponents) were allowed their five minutes to speak to the board. But as soon as we started to speak they became disrespectful,” said Nelson, who had pushed for a County Board roll call vote on the resolution.
Ely Echo
Editorial
This past week city councils in Ely, Babbitt and Aurora passed resolutions in opposition to a proposed PEIS in the Superior National Forest. We’re sure this was done with the best of intentions, but the further we dig into this the stranger it gets.
To start with, a PEIS is a programmatic environmental impact statement. From what we can gather, instead of looking at one proposed mining project, the USFS would look at all projects and see what the impact would be.
The PEIS has been called a “stealth attack” on the future of mining in northeastern Minnesota. Those looking to support mining see this as a delay in getting projects underway and a duplication of other EIS already completed or in the works.
Understandably, this has a lot of folks very upset including Rep. Rick Nolan, the Iron Range delegation, industry groups and mining businesses.
MinnPost
Cyndy Brucato
The DFL Iron Range legislative delegation has fired off a letter to Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, using language that sounds like the GOP’s campaign themes.
The letter protests a potential U.S. Forest Service “programmatic environmental impact statement” that would evaluate mining throughout northern Minnesota and the Superior National Forest. A coalition of environmental groups has requested the PEIS.
“A regional or PEIS proposal … is not necessary or appropriate, would be an inefficient use of federal resources, does not contribute to the public interest … and would cause unacceptable delay in bringing jobs to Minnesota,” wrote the eight-DFLer delegation.