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A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to tour the proposed PolyMet mine site near Hoyt Lakes. PolyMet would like to reopen a former taconite mine for copper and nickel. Not knowing much about the mining industry in general, I was curious about the new jobs, tax revenue and other opportunities that could be generated for the state.
The staff members at PolyMet are lifelong Iron Rangers proud of their northern Minnesota mining heritage. They are avid outdoors enthusiasts who enjoy hunting, fishing and frequent trips to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. PolyMet has put together an experienced mining staff with strong and loyal employees who represent the best of Minnesota.
Refurbishing the PolyMet site will cost about $475 million and take about 2 million working hours. This is about the same as building Target Field, the new baseball stadium in Minneapolis. New jobs will be for carpenters, laborers, operating engineers and teamsters. Once the buildings and equipment are repaired and refurbished, the plant will have about 360 jobs that will pay $26 to $32 per hour year-round, according to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. Over the 20-year life of this proposed project, it is estimated to generate $720 million in wages and benefits, $300 million in state and local government taxes and $10.3 billion for St. Louis County.
Obviously, all mining operations have environmental concerns. But as I noted earlier, many of the people currently working for PolyMet in Minnesota are Iron Rangers. I do not believe they would jeopardize their way of life and favorite pastimes.
The PolyMet mine’s water cannot flow into the Boundary Waters; to do so would be geographically impossible due to the watershed boundary. Many environmentalists are concerned about the sulfur and mercury content of water. PolyMet has worked with local tribal experts and local communities to adhere to a policy for strict water regulation. The company is constructing an on-site reverse osmosis system to purify water collected and reused during the mining and processing procedure before depositing it back into tailings ponds. PolyMet also would adhere to the 10-milligrams-per-liter sulfate standard and all other clean-air and water standards currently in state and federal statutes.
Due diligence is required for every industrial project, and I believe PolyMet is doing its best to ensure life on the Iron Range will not be tainted by this facility.
For the rest of this column, click here: http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/278933/