Copper, nickel, and cobalt mining is a controversial topic in Minnesota, but is it more controversial than child labor? Like it or not, we all use these metals for nearly every aspect of our modern lives, and if we do not mine them in Minnesota, where we have strong protections for workers and the environment, we will import these metals from countries that don’t....
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The proposed PolyMet copper-nickel, and precious metal mine took a major step forward as the Minnesota DNR has just issued the permit to mine, stating the project meets Minnesota's environmental protection standards. The DNR has issued the permit to mine, six water appropriation permits, two dam safety permits, a public waters work permit, and an endangered species takings permit for the NorthMet project. The permit to mine includes a financial assurance plan and wetland replacement plan. According to the notice published by the DNR: No project in the history of Minnesota has been more thoroughly evaluated. In issuing the permits, the DNR has...
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A group that opposes the proposed Twin Metals copper nickel mine in northern Minnesota has released a new ad endorsing Tim Walz for Governor. This doesn't necessarily mean Walz opposes the Twin Metals project, but if anti-mining groups are endorsing him, it does raise the possibility that they know something we don't about his feeling toward copper nickel mining in our state....
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The Polymet mining project took one more step toward a final decision on whether the company will be able to begin developing some of Minnesota's massive copper, nickel, platinum, and cobalt deposits because the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (PCA) has sent the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency an updated permit for the agency's approval. The suggestions come from more than 700 public comments submitted to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and PCA on the proposed Polymet project. The comments including responses, proposed permit, and Technical Support Document can be viewed at the following link. American Experiment has written extensively on the economic benefits...
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The Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA) recently wrote an editorial in the Minneapolis Star Tribune arguing Minnesota’s titanium, copper, nickel and platinum deposits are low-grade and economically risky to develop. If these resources were truly valuable, so they argued, the deposits would have been developed decades ago. However, this argument could not be more wrong....
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The Minnesota state demographer expects the population in five northern counties to shrink, on net, by 9,710 people by 2050. That is, unless 8,500 people are employed as a result of new jobs created by mining Minnesota's wealth of copper, nickel, platinum, cobalt, and titanium resources....
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The federal government estimates the United States likely surpassed Russia and Saudi Arabia to become the world’s largest crude oil producer. In February, U.S. crude oil production exceeded that of Saudi Arabia for the first time in more than two decades. In June and August, the United States surpassed Russia in crude oil production for the first time since February 1999. Ten short years after all the so-called "smart money" was on Peak Oil Theory, which posited the world was running out of oil and global chaos would ensue as countries were plunged into economic turmoil and conflict as we waged war...
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Harvard economist omitted key jobs numbers in his analysis....
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The mining industry won a major victory in Minnesota Thursday, when the federal government lifted a controversial stay on minerals exploration in the area just outside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness....
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A majority of Minnesotans from around the state appear ready to embrace the prospect of developing Minnesota's massive copper, nickel, gold, platinum, and titanium resources through expanded mining. Support for mining grew when residents learned that developing our mineral resources would add $3.7 billion to Minnesota's economy and support 8,500 jobs ....
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