Mining Proponents Cheer For PolyMet

Last night, the final public hearing on PolyMet’s permit application was held in Duluth. Local television reporter Jennifer Austin estimated that 800 attended. At the end of the hearing, St. Louis County Commissioner Keith Nelson devoted the last minute of his allotted time to applause for PolyMet. Austin recorded what happened next:

Some mining opponents showed up at the hearing, and you can hear some of them booing. But it is obvious that most who attended–like most Minnesotans–support development of the state’s vast mineral resources.