Elanne Palcich – Chisholm, Minnesota
I was one of several hundred orderly and attentive people who attended the PolyMet Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) hearing in Aurora, Minnesota on December 9. Contrary to what PolyMet states, there is no hostile environmental movement against jobs in northern Minnesota. However, there are people who question the environmental footprint that metallic sulfide mining will leave behind. Read the rest of this entry »
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DNR, Minnesota, PolyMet | Tagged: economy, metallic sulfide mining, Minnesota, PolyMet | 
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Posted by LSMN
As the result of tightly-controlled verbal public comment, few participated in that part of the PolyMet DEIS process; Photo courtesy Lori Andresen
Hundreds of PolyMet Mining Company supporters were bussed to public meetings in Aurora and Blaine to provide comments on the company’s draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for the proposed NorthMet project. The organizing effort was combined with a public relations blitz of endorsements from Minnesota state and federal politicians -including the late endorsement of Senator Al Franken – the Minnesota AFL-CIO, construction groups and the Chamber of Commerce. Despite the large turnout, the public was unable to speak at either meeting.
“The ‘public hearings’ didn’t actually allow public comments to the audience,” said retired miner, Bob Tammen. “The only oral comments allowed were by individuals to stenographers in a tightly monitored room separate from the auditorium. That meant that the only outside speakers allowed were Iron Range legislators.”
Citizens wanting to give verbal public comment registered here in order to speak, privately, with a stenographer; Photo courtesy Lori Andresen
In a new public hearing format, described as “enhanced” by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), public comments were severely restricted with the only speakers allowed to voice opinions on the project being staunch political supporters of PolyMet’s NorthMet proposal. State Senator David Tomassoni and State Representative Thomas Rukavina gave speeches at the hearing in Aurora, on Wednesday, while State Senator Thomas Bakk chimed in at the Blaine hearing, the following day. Read the rest of this entry »
1 Comment | economy, lake superior, Minnesota, public land, water pollution | Tagged: "Sustainable Mining", dnr, economy, Minnesota, PolyMet, water pollution | Permalink
Posted by LSMN
ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steel producer – Britain’s richest man, Lakshmi Mittal, owns 43% of the company – may benefit from a £1 billion European carbon emissions trading scheme (ETS).
ArcelorMittal owns a 21% stake in Cliffs Natural Resources’ Empire Mine, located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and a 62.3% share in Cliffs’ Hibbing Taconite facility. Cliffs’ has been taking some heat from Minnesota steelworkers for deals reached with ArcelorMittal that workers say are costing them their jobs. The company is expected to recall workers soon. Read the rest of this entry »
Leave a Comment » | Cliffs Natural Resources, Michigan, Minnesota, workers | Tagged: cliffs, Michigan, Minnesota, workers | Permalink
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At a recent meeting in Ely, Minnesota a mining company actively exploring the state for metallic sulfide ore bodies expressed opposition to a project that would allow residents to better understand water quality in the area. If the mining industry can’t stop it, the project would represent a significant investment for remote Lake County and could help ensure that the area’s lucrative tourism industry remains intact for years to come.
Bob and Pat Tammen Canoe on Birch Lake; Photo courtesy Lori Andresen
On November 19, the White Iron Chain of Lakes Association (WICOLA) outlined plans before the Lake County Board for an extensive water testing effort of the Kawishiwi River watershed in order to locate pollution sources and prevent future pollution. The project would be funded with $500,000 from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and could possibly attract matching funds. Read the rest of this entry »
Leave a Comment » | Duluth Metals, Film, gold, lake superior, Minnesota, public land, water, water pollution | Tagged: Duluth Metals, Film, Minnesota, pollution, water, water pollution | Permalink
Posted by LSMN
Duluth Metals, a company quietly but rapidly assessing the mineral value of a gold, copper, platinum and paldium deposit outside of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, claims that additional drilling has located even more metal than previously.
The incredibly water-rich area, highly valued by the State of Minnesota for tourism, has attracted a number 0f projects in addition to Duluth Metals’ Nokomis Project, many located on public land, in the Superior National Forest.
Franconia is hoping to mine directly underneath Birch Lake; PolyMet has recently submitted a draft Environmental Impact Assessment for it’s massive proposed NorthMet Project, located in a large wetland area; and Kennecott has been exploring further south, in Aitkin and Carlton counties.
In 2006, Aitkin County, Minnesota, refused to allow Kennecott exploration access. Never a company that allows the opinion of local citizens to get in its way, Kennecott sued the county and continued with exploration.
Leave a Comment » | Duluth Metals, Franconia, Kennecott-Rio Tinto, Minnesota, PolyMet, public land | Tagged: Duluth Metals, Franconia, Kennecott, Minnesota, PolyMet, Rio Tinto | Permalink
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Teresa Bertossi – Marquette, Michigan
I am writing to inform you about the second annual Protect the Earth Great Lakes Community Gathering that took place Aug. 1-2.
It was empowering, and I wish you all could have experienced being there or at the very least heard about it in your local newspaper. Read the rest of this entry »
Leave a Comment » | Michigan, Minnesota, Native American, Ontario, Rio Tinto, water, Wisconsin | Tagged: flambeau mine, metallic sulfide mining, Michigan, Minnesota, native american, ontario, water, Wisconsin, yellow dog summer | Permalink
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by Gabriel Caplett
The Marquette County Resource Management/Development Department completed a “Hazard Mitigation Plan” for the Marquette County Sheriff’s Department, Emergency Management Division. The plan, funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), outlines areas of concern to local and regional law enforcement.
The comprehensiveness of the plan is debatable as it lacks any published citations to support its numerous claims. Perhaps one of the more misplaced and wild claims is that “Terrorism and Sabotage…” represent a significant risk to the County. The plan also lacks consideration of metallic sulfide and uranium mining as potential risks to groundwater supplies and public health in the area. Read the rest of this entry »
Leave a Comment » | cameco, Eagle Mine, Health, Kennecott-Rio Tinto, Minnesota, uranium, water | Tagged: cameco, Eagle Mine, Kennecott, Michigan, public health, Rio Tinto, uranium, yellow dog plains | Permalink
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by Gabriel Caplett
According to the Minnesota DNR, roughly a dozen mining companies are currently exploring for nonferrous metals in Northeastern Minnesota’s Duluth Mafic Complex.[1] The Duluth Complex is the largest undeveloped nonferrous deposit in the United States and borders the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.[2]
PolyMet Mining Corp.’s NorthMet project, south of Babitt, is the largest undeveloped nonferrous mineral deposit in the US. The company owns a 100% leasehold interest in the 4,162 acre complex.[3] NorthMet is expected to commence extraction of platinum, palladium, gold, copper, nickel, cobalt, and silver in 2008.[4] Read the rest of this entry »
Leave a Comment » | Cliffs Natural Resources, Duluth Metals, Kennecott-Rio Tinto, Minnesota, PolyMet, public land, workers | Tagged: cliffs, Duluth Metals, Minnesota, PolyMet, Rio Tinto, workers | Permalink
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by Gabriel Caplett
Over the past decade, China’s rapidly expanding economy has caused a dramatic jump in metal prices, specifically copper. Although some analysts predicted a 30% decline in copper prices for 2007[1], a BHP-Billiton (BHP) executive, Diego Hernandez, noted recently that “the market is firm,” citing that demand from China will continue to support record prices: “…last year the Chinese bought less because they used a lot of inventory and have now started to go back to the market.”[2]
In 2003, then-Rio Tinto chairman Robert Wilson said “China’s growth, with its heavy emphasis on infrastructure development, has become a major influence in the market for many of our products….China’s consumption of metal has been growing by more than 10 per cent annually and rapid growth seems likely to continue.”[3] Read the rest of this entry »
Leave a Comment » | China, economy, human rights, Kennecott-Rio Tinto, Minnesota, uranium | Tagged: Africa, China, economy, human rights, Minnesota, Rio Tinto, uranium, west papua | Permalink
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