Thankful for mining? Tell the MN Dept. of Natural Resources to support it
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has been ordered by a court to review the state’s rules governing copper-nickel, and other non-iron mining. The agency is accepting public comment through Dec. 8, 2021.
It is vitally important that the DNR hear from mining supporters. Let them know you support the current comprehensive environmental protections and the stringent regulatory review processes already in place because they protect the environment that we all care about. A new review of the non-ferrous mining rule is unnecessary.
American Experiment’s research has found that copper-nickel mining could support up to 14,800 new jobs in Minnesota. We must show strong support in Minnesota and beyond to protect realize the immense potential of developing the resources in the Duluth Complex.
Twin Metals Minnesota has provided the instructions below to send your support for mining to the DNR.
Instructions to submit your comment online:
- Go to the DNR website comment page: https://survey.mn.gov/s.asp?k=163595161979
- Scroll to bottom to acknowledge and accept the terms.
- Click through automated images to prove you’re not a robot.
- Enter your contact information.
- Draft your comment in the online comment box provided or upload documents. You can use the draft message below as a starting point for your comment.
- Click the “Submit” button below to ensure that your comments are received!
This comment period is associated with a court-approved process. It is important that commenters provide substantive information on why the siting rule should not be changed. Comments that only focus on general support for mining, without providing further information for DNR to consider, will not be helpful in the decision-making process about the adequacy of the existing nonferrous rule.
Please copy and paste the message below into the DNR form’s comment box and amend as you see fit:
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources:
I am writing in support of upholding the current non-ferrous mining rules in place in Minnesota, because these rules are designed to strongly protect our environment and ensure any new proposed mining project meets the stringent standards in place before it can be permitted. I support upholding the current non-ferrous rules for the following reasons.Every new mining project deserves to be evaluated individually and specific to their site, design and unique geology.
The DNR should determine that it can depend on a broad range of environmental review and regulatory tools to assess the specifics of a mining proposal and ensure that it is regulated to the fullest extent necessary to protect the BWCAW.
The purpose of the DNR’s nonferrous mining rule is not to either prohibit nonferrous mining in the Rainy River watershed or grant blanket permission for mining to begin. Federal and state environmental laws, rules, and regulations require the successful completion of extensive review and permitting processes for mining operations to begin.
The state of Minnesota has already taken the necessary actions to protect the BWCAW through a long history of federal and state actions that strictly govern mining activity.
The rules are designed to act as a framework within which specific permit requirements are to be developed to address the unique issues anticipated to exist at each individual mine site, and they are meant to adapt to mining developments as they evolve, and technologies improve.
Mining in Minnesota has for more than 130 years coexisted with the wilderness and supported the economic stability of our state.
The Minnesota courts already rejected a challenge to these same rules in 2019.
I strongly support the DNR upholding the validity of the current non-ferrous mining rules, because the rules and the stringent regulatory review process in place are designed to adequately protect our environment, including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
We support mining because mining supports all of us, whether we appreciate that fact on a daily basis or not.