Prevent Sulfide Mining Pollution in Northern MN
Jeremy Scott Aaron
Below is an urgent message from WaterLegacy, a non-profit dedicated to protecting Minnesota's waters and the communities that depend on them.
ALERT: Prevent Sulfide Mining Pollution in Minnesota!
NORTHERN MINNESOTA has been targeted for toxic copper-sulfide mining. Copper-sulfide mining, which is new to Minnesota, is drastically different than iron mining. Unlike iron deposits, copper deposits typically occur in sulfur-bearing rock that creates sulfuric acid and leaches toxic metals when it is exposed to air and water. Mines across the United States have caused extensive acid mine drainage. This drainage pollutes waterways and drinking water, kills fish and other aquatic life, and costs taxpayers hundreds of millions to clean-up.
HELP US stop this threat to our lakes, rivers, and fish before it starts. Right now Polymet, Inc., is attempting to get a permit for a copper sulfide mine near Hoyt Lakes. The PolyMet project would impact 6,700 acres of public lands in the Superior National Forest. This land includes high-quality wetlands and forests where Indian tribes have specific legal treaty rights.
The Polymet project would release mercury, sulfates, and heavy metals into the Embarrass, St. Louis, and other rivers of the Lake Superior watershed. Some of these rivers are already impaired by pollutants, and consumption of fish caught in them is restricted.
The project would also increase air pollution that results in regional haze, and create a risk of perpetual pollution without adequate financial assurance that the public won't end up paying the costs.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on the project and are currently taking public comments and holding public hearings. The Indian tribes and the United States Environmental Protection Agency have already expressed concern that the DEIS is inadequate to protect the environment and the public.
Your comments are critical. Decision-makers must be held accountable. In addition, the possibility of future legal action depends on documented "public controversy."
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD: SEND A LETTER TO THE AGENCIES
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/642/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1839
THE DEADLINE FOR COMMENTS IS FEBRUARY 3, 2010.
ATTEND AND SPEAK UP AT A PUBLIC HEARING
7:00 pm Wed., December 9, 2009
Memorial Gymnasium
Mesabi East Schools
601 North First Street West
Aurora, Minnesota 55705
7:00 pm Thurs., December 10, 2009
Schwan Center
National Sports Center
1700 105th Avenue Northeast
Blaine, Minnesota 55449
More Information: http://WaterLegacy.org
Email: in...@waterlegacy.org
John Smith
I am currently living in northern MN - 2 hours from this mine's
proposed site. I will have the unique chance to speak with an engineer
from Poly Met next monday as he does a show and tell for all of us who
work at Wolf Ridge ELC. This gentleman is a friend of our director and
is someone we can speak to straight and will do so in return.
If any of you have questions you would like answered by someone like
this, please let me know.
Thanks for sending this out, Jeremy. It's an item of major importance
to MN.
Go Ethan!
John
On Dec 4, 3:34 pm, Jeremy Scott Aaron <aa...@stolaf.edu> wrote:
> Below is an urgent message from WaterLegacy, a non-profit dedicated to
> protecting Minnesota's waters and the communities that depend on them.
>
> NORTHERN MINNESOTA has been targeted for toxic copper-sulfide mining.
> Copper-sulfide mining, which is new to Minnesota, is drastically different
> than iron mining. Unlike iron deposits, copper deposits typically occur in
> sulfur-bearing rock that creates sulfuric acid and leaches toxic metals when
> it is exposed to air and water. Mines across the United States have caused
> extensive acid mine drainage. This drainage pollutes waterways and drinking
> water, kills fish and other aquatic life, and costs taxpayers hundreds of
> millions to clean-up.
>
> HELP US stop this threat to our lakes, rivers, and fish before it starts.
> Right now Polymet, Inc., is attempting to get a permit for a copper sulfide
> mine near Hoyt Lakes. The PolyMet project would impact 6,700 acres of public
> lands in the Superior National Forest. This land includes high-quality
> wetlands and forests where Indian tribes have specific legal treaty rights.
>
> The Polymet project would release mercury, sulfates, and heavy metals into
> the Embarrass, St. Louis, and other rivers of the Lake Superior watershed.
> Some of these rivers are already impaired by pollutants, and consumption of
> fish caught in them is restricted.
>
> The project would also increase air pollution that results in regional haze,
> and create a risk of perpetual pollution without adequate financial
> assurance that the public won't end up paying the costs.
>
> The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of
> Engineers recently released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on
> hearings*. The Indian tribes and the United States Environmental Protection
> the environment and the public.
>
> Your comments are critical. Decision-makers must be held accountable. In
> addition, the possibility of future legal action depends on documented
> "public controversy."
> MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD: SEND A LETTER TO THE
>
> http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/642/p/dia/action/public/?action_...<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=JAX7lwfg%2F%2B...>
>
> *THE DEADLINE FOR COMMENTS IS FEBRUARY 3, 2010.*
>
> Mesabi East Schools
> 601 North First Street West
> Aurora, Minnesota 55705
>
> National Sports Center
> 1700 105th Avenue Northeast
> Blaine, Minnesota 55449
>
> *Email:* i...@waterlegacy.org