MinnPost has a fascinating must-read story by Ron Way that explores the PolyMet precious minerals mining project on the East Range. Once again, MinnPost demonstrates its statewide chops. This is more compelling and investigative than anything done by a Range newspaper. In a nutshell, there are many lingering questions that must be answered before this project becomes a reality. However, PolyMet is still on the economic development radar in a way that defies the current drop in global mineral prices. This should be interesting to follow.
MinnPost takes solid look at PolyMet status
December 6, 2008 by 2 Comments
Overall not a terrible article, but the article makes it sound like people visiting the BWCA could be portaging canoes across the mine. It ignores the fact that most of their activity will be on the site of the abandoned LTV plant. (The article doesn’t even mention LTV by name!).
For perspective, trying flying to “Babbitt, MN” using Google Earth. See that huge brown/gray scar left on the earth that runs all the way down to Hoyt Lakes? That’s where most of the activity will be, not on the pretty landscapes featured in the article (granted, that only applies to Polymet, not necessarily to the other proposed mines).
Now draw a square or rectangle that’s just less than 10.5 square miles (the size of the proposed land swap, I know, 6700 acres sounds more impressive). Now zoom out and compare that size with the sprawl of LTV… don’t forget the tailings ponds.
All of a sudden, the project looks a lot less like a threat to the pristine wilderness, doesn’t it.
Yes, there are concerns that need to be addressed, but let’s not cloud the issue unnecessarily.
Rong Way. Ha ha ha ha ha ha
Have those questions ever really been answered for the taconite mines? Imagine all the different substances in all those tailings! Yikes.
Where did the $20 million come from? Taxpayers?
Why are Oberstar and Klobuchar so quick to force the land swap? Are they in bed with PolyMet? Sounds like an investigation into Jim and Amy might be in order.
As for “moonscape”, how would you describe a taconite mine?
As for retirees portage through the BWCA, not really.
It will be interesting to see how much power the NIMBY crowd has. I bet Jim and Amy crush the NIMBYs.