Support a Review of Proposal for Non-Ferrous Sulfide Mining
POSITION: Hospitality Minnesota supports a responsible and rigorous environmental review of proposals for non-ferrous sulfide ore mining in Northeastern Minnesota.
BACKGROUND: Stewardship of our natural resources is critical to tourism and our outdoor way of life in Minnesota. There has been significant exploration in Northeastern Minnesota for ores containing copper, nickel, cobalt and other metals. All the ores found contain sulfide in addition to valuable metals.
The areas being considered for mining are amid pristine and important natural areas. Protecting our lakes, rivers and ground water from pollution through proper stewardship is extremely important to the future of tourism and the continued success of the membership of Hospitality Minnesota.
BACKGROUND: Stewardship of our natural resources is critical to tourism and our outdoor way of life in Minnesota. There has been significant exploration in Northeastern Minnesota for ores containing copper, nickel, cobalt and other metals. All the ores found contain sulfide in addition to valuable metals.
The areas being considered for mining are amid pristine and important natural areas. Protecting our lakes, rivers and ground water from pollution through proper stewardship is extremely important to the future of tourism and the continued success of the membership of Hospitality Minnesota.
- The mining and processing of these ores pose a potential danger of sulfides combining with water to produce sulfuric acid. Very serious damage to the environment has occurred in other parts of the country from poorly planned or unregulated mining of ores containing sulfide.
- The technology being proposed for these mines is relatively new and still under development.
- There is a licensing process underway for the Polymet proposal near Hoyt Lakes, however, the matter is being litigated. Twin Metals has submitted an application for a mine near Ely in St. Louis County, but the federal government has cancelled their licenses and the matter is also likely to face additional litigation. The Tamarack Project is also exploring nonferrous mining in Aitkin County.
- Because water pollution can occur for a very long time after mining is completed, we support strict financial requirements that are immune from future bankruptcy filings
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