said he will continue to push vigorously for the PolyMet copper-nickel mining project near Hoyt Lakes. The copper-nickel mining project will add minerals vital to home construction and high-tech production. Oberstar noted that the PolyMet project will create up to 1,000 jobs and play a key role in the diversity, stability, and sustainability of northern Minnesota’s mining industry.
“We are defined by faith, family, and work, and when you lose any one of those the others are threatened.” Oberstar continued, “We can reclaim not only the copper and the nickel, but we can reclaim the lost jobs from northeastern Minnesota.”
Oberstar also talked about the environmental implications of the project. He expressed his confidence in PolyMet’s responsible and innovative approach to nonferrous mining and processing, which will help minimize the environmental impact. Currently the U.S. imports a majority of its precious metals from other countries around the world. Oberstar noted that when we import their products, we also import their pollution.
“We don’t want to import pollution either, and that’s what happens when you’re bringing in paper from places like Indonesia or China, where they do not engage in sound silvicultural management practices. Nor are many places in the world that are nickel or copper or precious metal producers careful of the environment. So when we import their nickel we are also importing, to that degree, the pollution that they are leaving behind in their mining practices.”
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