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The real threat to the long-term health (economic, social, political) of the Ely area and the rest of the Arrowhead is the kind of denial of reality (I won’t assume dishonesty) on display in the latest comment by Minnesota Miners (MM). First, the writer, whoever s/he is, clearly has not read or does not understand NEPA. NEPA establishes an environmental review process for proposed federal actions, not for private mine plans. The NEPA EIS process currently underway is a result of the proposed federal action of a 20-year withdrawal from the federal mineral leasing program of 234,328 acres of mineral rights owned by the people of the United States. The EIS will examine the environmental, economic, and social impacts on the Boundary Waters, other Superior National Forest lands, and the community if mining leasing were allowed in this sulfide-bearing ore. The science of mining in sulfide-bearing ore, the industry’s record of destruction and pollution, and the value and vulnerability of the waters and lands involved will all be studied, along with many other relevant questions. More than 125,000 people have submitted comments to the Forest Service/BLM, and more than 3,000 attended listening sessions around the state. The Superior National Forest belongs to the people of the United States, and the people are making their voices heard, no matter how much Nolan, Emmer, and MM may want to stifle them. The earlier EIS to which MM refers was so limited as to be irrelevant to the broader question of whether sulfide-ore mining should be allowed in the Boundary Waters watershed; the issue was prospecting permits, not mineral leases as asserted by MM. MM also helps perpetuate the myth that Antofagasta/Twin Metals was still prospecting; in fact, as Marshall pointed out, Antofagasta/Twin Metals was done prospecting. By August 2014, the company had announced that it was winding down exploratory drilling and had laid off workers. One of MM’s most tired and silly arguments is that Flambeau (Wisconsin) and Eagle (Michigan) justify mining in the watershed of the Boundary Waters; those are apparently the only two copper mines that mining supporters are willing to talk about. Flambeau operated for four years; the mine covered 38 acres in high-grade ore. By contrast, Antofagasta/Twin Metals either controls or seeks to control about 70,000 acres of low-grade, sulfide-bearing ore in the watershed of the Boundary Waters. Flambeau is polluting groundwater and surface water; it wasn’t in violation of its permit because the State of Wisconsin gave it permission to pollute. The Flambeau mining company admitted that water will be polluted for thousands of years. Eagle Mine, which has been operating only since 2014, is discharging sulfide-ore particulates into the air over the Salmon Trout River. The company reneged on a promise to install a baghouse to capture the particles. Yes, MM, we are in the 21st Century, and the 21st Century state-of-the art mine at Mount Polley, British Columbia lost its tailings dam in 2015 and dumped millions of gallons of toxic sludge into important salmon waters. I don’t see that you mentioned that. Nor did you mention the giant collapse of the Bingham Canyon copper mine in Utah. The list of modern mine disasters would fill a good-sized book. MM’s claims that the economy of Ely is not sustainable and I supposedly know it, and that retired people are not investing in the community, are entirely bizarre. Ely has been stable and sustainable for 50 years, since the last mine here closed, because of the proximity of the Boundary Waters and the wonderful lands and waters of the Superior National Forest. It’s a fabulous place to live. Retirees don’t invest in the community? Tell that to Ely’s plumbers, electricians, carpenters, hardware stores, lumber yard, grocery stores, variety stores, propane companies, oil companies, gas stations, liquor stores, hair salons, clothing stores, restaurants, sandwich shops, coffee shops, galleries, outfitters, small engine shops, doctors, dentists, pharmacists, veterinarians, massage therapists, and farmers (not sure who I might have left out). Ask them what the impact would be on their businesses if retirees didn’t spend money with them. Finally, having copper mines in the watershed of the Boundary Waters would have an impact on future generations of northeastern Minnesotans all right—it would guarantee that they would either live in a land of destroyed forests, poisoned waters, and impoverished communities, or move away.

From: The fearful politicians

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