The new type of mining proposed for the Arrowhead region, the method of mining copper, nickel, and other non-ferrous metals, is known to leach sulfuric acid. This type of mining, sometimes called non-ferrous mining, hard rock mining, or sulfide mining, is nothing like the iron ore mining we have known in Minnesota. Non-ferrous mining poses a much greater risk to a wetland environment than iron ore mining.
In the process of mining the trace amounts of non-ferrous metals, ore is crushed to release the 1% of valued minerals, and accordingly, an estimated 39,600 tons of sulfide bearing waste rock would be discarded every day by these mines. All that has to happen for sulfuric acid to form is for the natural sulfide-bearing ores to come into contact with air or water.
In several states in the U.S., these types of mines have not only caused pollution, but they have resulted in super fund sites leaving tax payers millions of dollars in clean-up costs.
There are dozens of international mining corporations currently lined up, interested in minerals in the watershed of Lake Superior and hundreds of boundary lakes. Because of the promise of about 500 jobs, our governing leaders are quickly making legislative changes to accommodate the international mining corporation’s access to land here.
Already having “streamlined” the mining permit process just last year, it is all happening very fast. Bill H.F. 2164 was introduced last week, which would further erode water protections, reduce public input on environmental decisions, and allow land trades that give companies access to land currently prohibitive to mining.
Please ask your representatives to vote “no” on H. F. 2164, a new bill that would weaken the environmental protections of Minnesota’s clean water. Please ask Governor Dayton to veto H.F. 2164, should it come to his desk.
Please ask your representatives to vote “yes” on bill H.F. 2800, a bill that would put in place provisions and require some basic guarantees before issuing permits to mine the sulfide bearing ore in Minnesota.
Liz Sivertson
Grand Marais
Leave a Reply