Duluth News Tribune
Opinion: Hal Quinn (President and CEO of the National Mining Association)
How are labor strikes in South Africa, Western trade sanctions against Russia, and ample mineral resources in Minnesota related? They all affect the global availability of platinum-group metals like platinum and palladium, the raw materials critical to U.S. competitiveness as well as economic opportunity in Minnesota. As tensions rise across Russia and Ukraine, the potential for further economic sanctions could disrupt Russian supplies of platinum-group metals. The current labor strike in South Africa’s mining sector has shut in production and further exacerbated supply concerns at a time of growing demand.
Platinum-group metals are crucial to the supply chains of countless U.S. industries and contribute to the production process of more than 20 percent of all manufactured goods. These metals are found in everything from catalytic converters and fuel cells in next-generation vehicles to computer chips and medical equipment, among various other applications across a myriad of industries. As prices for these metals spike to their highest levels since August 2011, American businesses are forced to play a zero-sum game to secure their raw-material needs. As it stands, the U.S. remains reliant on foreign imports for more than 60 percent of our palladium and nearly 80 percent of our platinum.
Enough is Enough!
Mesabi Daily News
Bill Hanna
Some special interest groups want a far-reaching environmental impact statement done by the U.S. Forest Service on the effects of mining done in all of northern Minnesota, specifically in the Superior National Forest.
But Democratic elected officials are basically saying in unison — enough is enough. Some of them, however, are using more direct and unequivocal wording.
They all say the proposal would be providing an unnecessary layer of environmental review on top of stringent processes already in place.
PolyMet: Visit With Us at Earth Fest
Hometown Focus
PolyMet Mining
Hybrid cars. LED lights. Solar panels. Wind turbines.
All of the above are required for sustainable energy solutions. They also require a number of metals – metals that the proposed PolyMet project will responsibly and economically mine. Green metals.
Located on Northeastern Minnesota’s Iron Range, PolyMet Mining’s proposed copper-nickel mine will produce copper, nickel, cobalt, platinum, palladium and gold. These metals are needed for everyday living and for a green economy.
Read more: http://www.hometownfocus.us/news/2014-04-18/Features/PolyMet_Visit_with_us_at_Earth_Fest.html
Nolan: Let’s Permit PolyMet
Mesabi Daily News
Bill Hanna
Permit the PolyMet Mine project on the Range — now.
That’s the unequivocal message 8th District Democratic U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan sent last week to the government agencies involved with the NorthMet (PolyMet) copper/nickel/precious metals venture.
Nolan’s letter to Lisa Fay, EIS project manager of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, was dated and sent a day prior to release of the PolyMet SDEIS, which gave a favorable rating to the project that showed considerable improvement from the first EIS in 2009/2010.
Read more: http://www.virginiamn.com/news/local/article_bca48f98-acb2-11e3-87c8-001a4bcf887a.html
Good News for PolyMet
Grand Rapids Herald-Review
Bill Hanna
The PolyMet copper/nickel/precious metals project near Hoyt Lakes and Babbitt got some good news from the Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday.
The EPA, on the same day that the three-month public comment period on it for its supplemental draft environmental impact statement concluded, issued a EC-2 rating for that document dealing with the company’s NorthMet project.
The EPA finding received high praise from PolyMet officials.
Read more: http://www.grandrapidsmn.com/news/article_c897afd2-ab96-11e3-9cbd-001a4bcf887a.html