“We are confident that Minnesota’s new mines will be built in an environmentally responsible manner and more importantly, offering an unprecedented opportunity for Minnesota to build the green economy of the future,” said Harry Melander, president of the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council and co-founder of Jobs for Minnesotans.

“Why are we so confident? These projects will be reviewed by more than six federal and state agencies, including the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. They will literally be the “greenest” mines in the world because they will use 21^st century technology and re-use Minnesota’s existing mining infrastructure,” Melander continued.

“Metals like copper and nickel are necessary to create a green economy that includes wind, solar and other alternative energies. By getting these metals right here in Minnesota, we can build the state’s and country’s role in the new, sustainable economy of the future, provide thousands of permanent jobs, and put billions in new tax revenues into Minnesota’s public schools.”

“These projects will boost the economy in the Iron Range region and have a significant impact statewide, investing hundreds of millions of dollars in our economy and providing a boon to Minnesota businesses and their employees,” added David Olson, president of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.

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Jobs for Minnesotans was co-founded in October 2012 by the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council representing 55,000 workers and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce representing 2,300 companies and 500,000 employees. This coalition represents businesses, middle class workers, labor, local governments and other supporters of job creation in the state of Minnesota. Jobs for Minnesotans was created to educate and provide information about the direct and ancillary job creation that the strategic metals mining can produce for the state.

Media Contact:
Harry Melander
612-865-3585
harstpbt@mtn.org

Mesabi Daily News
Bill Hanna

U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan will support a bill that would streamline the permitting process for mining of mineral resources such as copper/nickel/precious metals deposits on the eastern Iron Range.

The 8th District Democrat has received more than 200 calls on the issue, he said in a telephone interview on Tuesday. “It’ been fairly even.”

But the congressman cautioned that a victory for the bill in the House, which has a Republican majority, most likely will not translate into approval in the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats.

“They have not included the House Democrats in writing this bill. And they haven’t reached out to the Senate or White House,” Nolan said.

Read more: http://www.virginiamn.com/news/local/article_624a05ea-2013-11e3-ab84-001a4bcf887a.html

Mesabi Daily News
Bill Hanna

A kickoff event for MINE II was attended by about 100 people at Zimmy’s in Hibbing Thursday. MINE II will be the second of quarterly publications on the importance — past, present and into the future — of mining to the Iron Range.

MINE II will be published in the four papers on Wednesday, Oct. 30.

The word MINE, in bold, strong letters, was chosen for this ongoing project because the impact of mining in all of our lives and communities on the Iron Range is so huge. Mining is by far the major economic driver of the region.

Read more: http://www.virginiamn.com/news/local/article_0715c9f8-1c25-11e3-9396-001a4bcf887a.html

Hibbing Daily Tribune
Tony Potter

Known for its rich mining industry and history, the Iron Range economy is driven by its largest group of workers — miners.

The Iron Range Miners’ Expo Tool & Equipment Showcase, which starts today, focuses on the needs and interests of the miners.

“It’s for the miners,” said Debra McCauley, marketing and public relations for Minnesota Discovery Center (MDC). “It’s for employees to meet with distributors, mining companies and representatives. And it’s on the Iron Range — it’s where they live, work and play.”

The expo is free, and will be held at MDC from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12. A community reception sponsored by Aqua Power will be held from 4 to 9:30 p.m. today and feature exhibitors, networking and a happy hour.

Read more: http://www.hibbingmn.com/news/local/article_f57b1ff4-1a8a-11e3-b43d-0019bb2963f4.html

Hometown Focus
Dr. Kenneth Reid

Let’s start on a Monday morning. It’s 6:00 a.m. Time to get up!

Electricity to run your alarm clock comes through copper wires.

Copper comes from a copper mine. Copper sulfide minerals have to be concentrated to separate them from worthless minerals.

So, are minerals and mining important?

You betcha. Absolutely everything we depend on is either made from minerals or relies on minerals for its production and distribution.

Read more: http://www.hometownfocus.us/news/2013-09-06/Features/The_Importance_of_Minerals_and_Mining.html