Report Inappropriate Comments

I grew up in southern Minnesota"s farm country, productive farms, good businesses and schools for the most part.at least until the past 15 years or so. Many Minnesotans have lost their jobs since then. But, I have always loved northern Minnespta's pristine lakes,streams and forests always looking forward to escaping to there on camping and fishing trips or just to visit relatives and always sad to leave and return to the metro.I worked at a place called Sandoz in St. Loius Park as an electrician for 6 years in the late 70's right after one of the mining busts in northern Minnesota. Sandoz, under a state work progra employed many displaced rangers. At first, I was alarmed at how direct and blunt thet were, but I grew to really appreciate their fiesty nature. They were competent, good workers that had lost good jobs and a way of life.Some, later returned despite the flagging economy and I understood why. Northern Minnesota is special but..I feel sulfide mining like mining in general will inevitably go bust but unlike iron mining , will leave poisonous legacy. A legacy that will change northern Minnesota forever. And, there will be restoring it and no returning home to those pristine lakes and streams beccuse they will not be there, for my grandkids or yours for mitigating sulfide tailings and run off would be prohibitively costly if not impossible, like trying to hold water in your hand.So, I know it's hard up there but nothing worth having is ever easy. One last thought, an old Cree saying I believe that says "Only when man has poisoned the last river and stream, cut down the last tree and caught the last fish , will he relalize that he can't eat money."