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Hunting and angling groups call for PolyMet accountability

December 21, 2009

Members of Minnesota’s hunting and angling community issued the following statement over the weekend. It highlights many of known concerns about the PolyMet Draft Environmental Impact Statement and demonstrates how this issue is of concern to a broad segment of Minnesota’s citizens:

Sportsmen’s coalition supports holding PolyMet fully accountable for watershed and waterways pollution

2,000 years of contamination for 20 years of copper mining

DULUTH—An ad hoc coalition of hunting and angling groups formally requests that legislation be passed by state lawmakers holding Canadian mining company PolyMet fully accountable for any and all costs associated with remediation and cleanup of its proposed copper-nickel mining operations near Hoyt Lakes, Minn. If this can’t be accomplished—thereby protecting taxpayers from a cleanup tab that could amount to hundreds of millions of dollars—no copper-nickel mining should be allowed.

The coalition of groups, which includes the Minnesota Division of the Izaak Walton League of America and the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, consists of sportsmen and women and others who understand the priceless value of clean watersheds and crystal clear lakes, streams, and rivers that supply Minnesotans with clean drinking water and unparalleled outdoor recreation opportunities.

And we have serious concerns about the seemingly reckless rush of some northern Minnesota legislators and others to approve PolyMet’s proposed mining operation on the former LTV Steel Mining Co.’s taconite plant near Hoyt Lakes.[1] Especially considering that these same lawmakers stymied attempts to pass common sense legislation ensuring that taxpayers won’t be saddled with decades of remediation and toxic waste cleanup costs after PolyMet officials pack their bags and head back to Canada.

Today, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 40 percent of western headwater streams are polluted by abandoned mines, which poison rivers, creeks, and watersheds with sulfuric acid and heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and arsenic. High-end estimates of the number of abandoned mines range up to half-a-million. The projected cost to clean them up could be as high as $70 billion.[2]

Hardrock mining imperils watersheds and fish habitat because mineral ores are infused with sulfides. When mining puts the ore into contact with water, the result is acid runoff that pollutes lakes, rivers and streams, oftentimes killing all aquatic life.[3] For example, in South Dakota the Dakota Mining Corp. extracted nearly $70 million worth of precious metals from public lands, then went broke in 1998, abandoned the mine, and left behind a 100 million gallon pond of acid and toxic heavy metals. The cleanup cost is estimated at $40 million—more than seven times higher than the cleanup bond the company posted, shifting the costs onto taxpayers.[4]

At Summitville, a mine in Colorado, a bankrupt Canadian company has left the nation’s most costly mine cleanup. It will take 100 years and cost $235 million to clean up the release of cyanide and acid mine drainage that has left 17 miles of the Alamosa River devoid of fish and other aquatic life. The mine was permitted as a ‘zero discharge’ mine.[5] Montana and Wisconsin have since banned similar mines as a result of these and other disasters.

It’s clear to us that PolyMet’s Canadian officials don’t want to be held financially responsible for their mine’s cleanup and reclamation costs because they know that the long-term environmental damage to our watersheds, waterways and other natural resources will likely exceed the value (many times over) of the copper and other minerals they manage to extract from the ground. PolyMet’s draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) says as much, stating that:[6]

• Water leaching from the waste rock piles is expected to be contaminated for up to 2,000 years.
• The West Mine Pit will overflow at Mine Year 65 (45 years after expected mine closure), contaminating the adjacent Partridge River with sulfates and heavy metals.
• Groundwater at the mine site is expected to exceed water quality standards.
• Due to structural instability, the tailings basin has a “low margin of safety.1″[7]

It’s also clear that PolyMet’s proposed mining operation will most likely contaminate waters that flow into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and tributaries of Lake Superior.[8] The very lifeblood of northern Minnesota’s economy is its healthy watersheds and waterways, but PolyMet’s proposed mine waste will be leaching sulfuric acid into those same northern Minnesota waterways “for up to 2,000 years.”

In essence, what this amounts to (i.e., not holding PolyMet accountable for remediation and cleanup costs) is a corporate bailout for a Canadian company. American’s hard-earned tax dollars shouldn’t be used to subsidize foreign companies who are going to leave us with a legacy of 2,000 years of poisoned lakes, streams, and rivers. Adding insult to injury, the raw materials dug up from Minnesota’s public lands are going to be sold on the world market, very likely to countries with emerging economies, like China.

We end by asking a simple question: is 20 years worth of copper mining jobs worth 2,000 years of poisoned waterways and watersheds that will cost the rest of us millions, and possibly billions, to clean up? The risks to taxpayers and northern Minnesota’s waterways cannot be overstated and should not be brushed under the rug by short-sighted legislators. If PolyMet officials won’t agree to abide by tough, common sense legislation that requires them to be held fully accountable for all future remediation and cleanup costs, thereby protecting taxpayers from having to pay to clean up their toxic mess, it’s time to send them back to Canada.

Coalition Spokesmen:

Len Anderson
Izaak Walton League
218-879-6521
bander@northlc.com

David Lien
Backcountry Hunters and Anglers719-650-6526
dlien2@yahoo.com

Darrell Spencer
Izaak Walton League
218-724-4226
ds@leaveatrail.biz

[1] Charley Shaw.  “Copper controversy.”  Capitol Report: 2/23/09
[2] Tom Kenworthy.  “Prospecting Reform: Will Congress Finally Overhaul The General Mining Act of 1872?”  Trout: Fall 2008, p.23
[3] Roger Di Silvestro.  “A Legalized Assault on Public Lands.”  National Wildlife: April/May 2008
[4] Jim DiPeso.  “The 1872 Mining Law: Trumping Capitalism and Conservative Principles.”  C.E.P. Quarterly: Winter 2006
[5] Ryan Hunter.  “3,000 Acre Copper Mine Proposed Near Mount St. Helens.”  BlueOregon: 2/10/06
[6] Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness (FBWW).  “DNR schedules PolyMet public meetings.”  FBWW: 11/19/09
[7] Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness (FBWW).  “DNR schedules PolyMet public meetings.”  FBWW: 11/19/09
[8] Tom Meersman.  “DNR leaves out public debate at mining project meetings.”  [Minneapolis-St. Paul] Star-Tribune: 12/9/09

Video of political endorsements at PolyMet public hearing

December 14, 2009

The decision to allow speeches from three Iron Range politicians at last week’s PolyMet public hearings was widely criticized. The rousing endorsements of the mine proposal put inappropriate political pressure on the Department of Natural Resources and the Army Corps of Engineers to approve the project and distracted from the Draft Environmental Impact Statement’s primary objective: to analyze the project’s potential environmental impacts.

The speeches, which you can watch in the video below, primarily addressed the region’s need for jobs, which is not be the emphasis of an environmental review process. Additionally, while repeating claims about new technology and “doing it right,” none of the politicians provided any specifics about the DEIS or the mine proposal.

Watch for yourself and decide if these speeches were appropriate at an event where the general public was not allowed to speak about the project:

Thank you to Craig Stellmacher for providing the video. (And please excuse the pre-video advertising.)

Sulfide mining in the news

December 10, 2009

“PolyMet mine splits Iron Range“
Justin Mattson, a Hoyt Lakes area chemistry teacher, and Steve Koschak, a nearby resort owner, have conflicting views of the mining proposals.  “Water is what we have to offer, it’s what sustains us, it’s what Ely is all about,” Steve said. Duluth News Tribune, December 6, 2009

“The DNR leaves out public debate at mining project meetings”
“What good is a public meeting if the public can’t speak publicly?”  This format of this week’s informational meetings limit the chance for Minnesotans to question the DNR and publicly discuss the sulfide mining issue.  The DNR will present their findings on the environmental impacts of the project and provide stenographers to record individual opinions. Star Tribune, December 9, 2009

“Public meeting for PolyMet sparks debate”
Both opponents and supporters gathered to comment on PolyMet’s sulfide mining proposal.  “Based on the nature of those comments, the EIS could change significantly.  And public input is exactly what the DNR wants.” Fox 21 News, December 9, 2009

“In first public meeting, jobs dominate mining debate”
Close to one thousand people gathered at Mesabi East High School in Aurora to comment on the PolyMet mining proposal.  Regional labor organizations, area chambers of commerce, and communities sent delegations to express their support.  Others oppose the project, one attendee saying, “I just feel like sulfide mining is a mistake for the state of Minnesota. I think that our water has to come first.” Minnesota Public Radio, December 10, 2009

Minnesota REI schedules film showings

December 10, 2009

Outdoor retailer REI has scheduled showings of “Precious Waters” at all of its Minnesota stores.  All showings begin at 7pm and will include a question and answer session afterward.

• January 11 – Roseville
• January 21 – Bloomington
• January 13 – Maple Grove

Check out our film showings page for a full listing of scheduled events.

Public opinion stifled at PolyMet hearings

December 9, 2009

The Minneapolis Star Tribune published an interesting article today about the format the Department of Natural Resources has chosen for the public meetings to be held tonight and tomorrow night about the PolyMet Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

The article raises important questions about the opportunities the DNR is giving Minnesota’s citizens to weigh in on the mine proposal, and the ability of the agency to adequately manage the public input process and fairly evaluate the merits of the DEIS.

Matt Norton, an attorney for the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, said that it’s not clear to him whether the meetings will satisfy federal requirements if there’s no public forum.

“Putting people in a room and having the agency talk at them for a time and shuffle them into rooms to make statements on tape is really not a dialogue,” he said. “It’s a statement and response.”

He predicted that the meeting format will hurt the whole effort of educating the public and receiving thoughtful comments. One of the key questions, Norton said, is whether the proposed mine will contaminate waters that flow into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness or tributaries of Lake Superior.

Response to Mesabi Daily News editorial (Updated)

December 1, 2009

In response to the release of “Precious Waters,” the Virginia, MN newspaper Mesabi Daily News published an editorial on Nov. 15 supporting PolyMet and criticizing our efforts to educate Minnesotans about the threats new sulfide mining proposals pose to the state’s clean waters.

Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness executive director Paul Danicic promptly wrote the following letter to the editor of the newspaper, which was printed on Nov. 28.

Contrary to the implication of your Nov. 14 editorial, the Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness has not pre-judged the PolyMet proposal or based any of our concerns about its Draft Environmental Impact Statement on fear rather than fact.

Our short film, “Precious Waters,” discusses why nonferrous mines are so prone to causing pollution and leaving taxpayers to pay for the clean-up. And it does exactly what your editorial urges your readers to do: “Allow the public to have its say with various opinions; and let those who know what they are doing evaluate all of the environmental work done over the past few years.”

The point of the film is to encourage informed public discussion so the risks of this mining can be evaluated alongside the potential benefits. Our organization and others have also engaged the assistance of expert geologists, hydrologists and geophysical engineers to help us make sense of PolyMet’s complex proposal. These are people who know what they are doing. Only once we have received their analyses will the Friends make up its mind about the proposed mine.

But, consider this: Groundwater at the PolyMet mine site will in fact be polluted with heavy metals, the West Pit will overflow into the Partridge River at Year 65, contaminating the river, and water leaching from the waste rock piles will exceed water quality standards for up to 2,000 years. That isn’t our analysis, that’s straight from the DEIS, and it’s easily found in a cursory read of the document.

Nonferrous mining represents understandable promise for some residents of northeastern Minnesota and I understand the appeal of the industry’s bold promises about mining jobs, spin-off jobs, taxes, and economic revitalization.

But there are many people all over the state, and many of your paper’s readers, who are eager for sustainable development on the Iron Range. They are also deeply worried about what these new mines could mean for the region’s clean waters and economic health long after the mines have come and gone.

Sincerely,

Paul Danicic
Executive Director
Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness

Attend the PolyMet public meetings

November 25, 2009

There will be two opportunities in early December for the public to attend meetings about the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for PolyMet Mining Corp.’s proposed sulfide mine:

• Wednesday, Dec. 9, Memorial Gymnasium, Mesabi East Schools, 601 North First Street West, Aurora, Minn. (map)
• Thursday, Dec. 10, Schwan Center, National Sports Center, 1700 105th Avenue Northeast, Blaine, Minn. (map)

The meetings start at 7 p.m. and will be preceded by open houses beginning at 5 p.m.

Turnout  is expected to be high, and the mining industry and its allies will be there in force. If you are worried about  speak up for your values of clean water, stewardship, and wilderness. If you can’t make the event, you can submit your own comments on the project here.

For more information, check out this fact sheet about deficiencies in the PolyMET DEIS and keep an eye on this website for more information that will be useful when attending the meetings.

You can read the DEIS yourself online and at libraries and other public places around the state:

• DNR Library, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, Minn.
• DNR Regional Office, 1201 East Highway 2, Grand Rapids, Minn.
• DNR Regional Office, 1525 Third Avenue East, Hibbing, Minn.
• Hoyt Lakes Public Library, 206 Kennedy Memorial Drive, Hoyt Lakes, Minn.
• Duluth Public Library, 520 West Superior Street, Duluth, Minn.
• Minneapolis Public Library, 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minn.

Film events scheduled around the state

November 19, 2009

Attend a “Precious Waters” film showing and learn about sulfide mining and how you can make your voice heard on this important issue.

Austin, MN

Today, Nov. 19, 3-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m.
Riverland Community College
West Building
1900 Eighth Ave. N.W.
Friends policy director Betsy Daub will be available to answer questions

Fargo, North Dakota

Monday, November 23, 8 p.m.
Century Theater, Memorial Union
Organized by the Northern Preservation and Restoration Society

Duluth – Two Events!

Thursday, December 3
Duluth League of Women Voters Forum
US EPA Conference Center
6200 Congdon Blvd, Duluth
Showing of Precious Waters at 6:30 p.m. followed by a panel discussion and audience questions

Monday, December 7
Teatro Zuccone
222 E. Superior St.
Movie showing at 7 p.m., followed by a panel of local speakers

More events are being scheduled and we’ll post details as soon as we have them.

Help spread the word by organizing a “Precious Waters” showing in your community!

Flambeau Mine hardly a success story

November 18, 2009

Industry and agency sources quoted in a story from Minnesota Public Radio today basically have one defense of Wisconsin’s Flambeau mine: “If the government says that mining pollution is okay, you, the citizen, should too.”

The Flambeau mine is frequently pointed to by the Minnesota sulfide mining industry as an example where this form of mining was done “right. ” But, it turns out, the mine is actually polluting surrounding waters at rates far above water quality standards, and above what the company and the Wisconsin DNR predicted.

“[Is] iron and manganese high in that well? Yes, it is. Is it higher than they predicted? Yes it is,” [Mining program coordinator for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Phillip] Fauble said. “However, we’ve evaluated that, and our opinion is that even at these higher levels, they still meet the conditions of the permit.”

Because the agency gave the mining company a permit that only specified what kind of impact it could have on the nearby Flambeau River, not on groundwater and streams closer to the mine site, the DNR is giving the company a pass.

As is also noted in the article, the Flambeau mine was significantly smaller than PolyMet’s proposal, and the ore was processed elsewhere, so the dangerous waste from that part of the operation was never a factor, whereas PolyMet will be doing the processing for its mine on-site.

Read the whole story…

Birch Lake mining proposal takes big step forward

November 16, 2009

Franconia Minerals Corporation announced a significant development last week in its proposal. Franconia would like to mine sulfide ores underneath Birch Lake, just a few miles from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and in a river system that flows into the BWCAW.

The company issued a press release announcing on Thursday announcing that it has begun work to study how

“waste materials – primarily rock – will weather when they are exposed or stockpiled during the mining process. The long term results of these studies will be used in the design and development of any future mine plan in order to minimize or eliminate potential environmental impacts created by such weathering.”

Franconia’s announcement, coming just days after the release of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the PolyMet project, demonstrates how other companies are “lined up like cars behind a snowplow.” In fact, as part of last week’s announcement, Franconia’s CEO stated, “Our goal is to be ready to become the second company in the Duluth Complex, after Polymet, to build a mine.”