Mining (MN Governor's Race)

Minnesota is the largest producer of iron ore in the United States. Nearly all of the high grade iron ore in Minnesota has been mined, however advances in technology have allowed for taconite, a lower grade iron ore, to continue to be mined. Minnesota is also the U.S.’s largest producer of taconite. Minnesota currently has seven operating taconite plants which produce pellets that are then shipped to steel mills where the pellets are melted and blown with oxygen to produce steel. In the past, iron ore was mined on three northern iron ranges: the Cuyuna, Mesabi, and Vermillion, as well as in Fillmore County in southeastern Minnesota. Now, only the Mesabi range is operational. The mining of iron ore and taconite is known as ferrous mining-ferrous pertaining to metals containing iron.

Minnesota is also home to one of the largest deposits of copper, nickel, and other precious metals, in a location known as the Duluth Complex, but these are not currently mined. Currently, the United States imports 40% of its copper and all of its nickel. In fact, there is only one active nickel mine in all of the U.S. and it is located in Oregon. However, two major projects are currently in the works to change that. The mining industry says that this could exceed the iron ore industry in the state, becoming a global leader in supplying copper, nickel and precious metals, while creating jobs for years to come and generating money for the economy. The Duluth Complex holds the 2nd largest copper deposit in the world (34% of the U.S.’s copper) and the 3rd largest nickel deposit in the world (with 95% of the U.S.’s nickel). The mining of copper and nickel is known as sulfide mining.

PolyMet
PolyMet Mining Corporation has proposed a mining project called the NorthMet Project. They plan to mine using open pit methods to a depth of 700 feet. They plan to rehabilitate the former LTV Steel Mining Company processing plant which is approximately 8 miles from the mining site, and construct a hydrometallurgical plant. They say that at peak production, they will produce 69.3 million pounds of copper, 9.6 million pounds of nickel, 352,000 pounds of cobalt, and 166,000 troy ounces of precious metals in concentrate annually.

Minnesota has some of the strictest environmental standards in the country and PolyMet says that they are complying with all state and federal standards to protect Minnesota’s water, air, and other natural resources. According to a study by the University of Minnesota Duluth Labovitz School of Business and Economics, they will employ 360 workers directly and create an additional 600 indirect jobs creating $515 million for St. Louis County annually.

Twin Metals LLC
Chilean-owned, Twin Metals LLC, has proposed a second sulfide mine a few miles from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and about 9 miles south of Ely, MN. They say that their project will bring 650 direct full-time jobs and 1,300 spinoff jobs to Ely, Babbitt, and surrounding communities.

Concerns
Sulfide mining has never been done in Minnesota. When sulfides meet air and water, sulfuric acid is produced leading to Acid Mine Drainage. Acid Mine Drainage kills fish, wildlife, and plants. In high levels, mining by-products have been shown to increase the risk of cancer and other illnesses. Given that mining takes place below the water table, there is concern that contamination will leak into the groundwater, threatening drinking water supplies and human health. In 2010, hardrock mining was responsible for 41% of all toxins released into the air. The industry is the top toxin producing industry, as identified by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Mining companies are unable to point to a sulfide mine that has not polluted water bodies. Studies show that the stage agencies and companies reviewing the plans often predict no pollution, but are wrong. Efforts taken to remedy pollution problems fail 64% of the time. At that point, the cost of cleanup is left to taxpayers. Companies file for bankruptcy leaving cleanup costs, which include long-term water treatment and management, to the public.

The PolyMet mining site would destroy 1,000 acres of wetlands, the single largest loss of wetlands ever permitted in Minnesota. PolyMet also predicts that 55% of the jobs for its mine would be non-local and filled by people relocating to the area. 20% would be commuters leaving only 25% local hires.

Additionally, the tourism industry generates $1.6 billion in northeastern Minnesota. There is concern that the new sulfide mines could affect the rivers and lakes in that area that draw tourists. For this reason and the environmental concerns, Friends of the Boundary Waters is one of the most vocal opponents of sulfide mining.

Here is where the candidates stand on sulfide mining:

Jeff Johnson (R): Candidate Johnson points to mining as one of the parts of Minnesota’s economy which provides a rock-solid foundation upon which many other industries have been built. He says miners lose jobs because of bureaucrats and regulations. He believes we can have copper/nickel mining in Minnesota and protect our environment. He will be an advocate as governor to move these projects forward.

Erin Murphy (D): Candidate Murphy says that when water gets pitted against jobs, we risk losing one to the other, and for our future, we need both. She says that it is imperative that if PolyMet is issued a permit, that strong financial assurances are secured and enforced, and that any production would need to stop if agreements are not kept. She says that if the permitting process isn’t doing enough to protect Minnesotans, than we need to fix it. And, if a corporation violates their permit, production should be halted until they can prove they are in compliance. She says she will protect our state from corporate interests who seek to weaken our permit process for financial gain. She would not allow any lease to be issued to Twin Metals for any use without going through our state-mandated process, nor would she shortcut any research or study needed to inform that decision.

Tim Pawlenty (R): Candidate Pawlenty supported the sulfide mining projects during his term as governor and did not see any need for additional environmental regulations.

Tim Walz (D): Candidate Walz voted against Representative Tom Emmer’s bill in the House of Representatives that would stop environmental review of the impact of copper and nickel mining in Minnesota. He supported a bill introduced by Representative Rick Nolan that allowed PolyMet to get the land needed to proceed with their project. After voting in favor of it, he issued this statement, “Our can-do spirit of innovation and ability to reject false choices are hallmarks of who we are as Minnesotans. We know that we can help each other achieve economic security for our families and be good stewards of our state at the same time, which is why we must follow the science and require a robust, credible environmental review process. That’s also why I cosponsored and voted for Congressman Nolan's legislation. After years of environmental review and approval by the Obama Administration, we have an obligation to honor the process that is in place by ensuring this exchange moves forward.”