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Mesabi Daily News
December 5, 2009

I am very pleased to express my strong support of an adequacy determination for the draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for PolyMet Mining Co.

The environmental review process for what will be Minnesota's first nonferrous metal mine has been long and arduous, but the resulting draft demonstrates that PolyMet will help meet our nation's domestic demand for copper, nickel, platinum, cobalt, gold and palladium, put Northeastern Minnesota citizens back to work and ensure the protection of our precious metal resources.

PolyMet has earned my support from the outset because of its responsible, innovative approach to nonferrous mining and processing; the DEIS does an excellent job of describing the many steps PolyMet will take to minimize environmental impacts. PolyMet proposes to utilize superior processing technology to use the sulfur in the ore as fuel and minimizing the emission of greenhouse gases. PolyMet will re-use the exceptional infrastructure from the former LTV Steel Mining Co. and proposes to mine within an already well established mining district. I am pleased in particular to see the redevelopment of this LTV brownfield site - the reuse of the facility will decrease the amount of undisturbed lands needed for the project and helps decrease capital costs for the project, thus making the mine more competitive globally. PolyMet plans to manage carefully waste rock and will not discharge process water. And the company will follow state law by setting aside appropriate levels of financial PolyMet will help our nation meet the demand for the metals in widespread, daily use. Many of these metals are essential fro our national security. PolyMet will also proceed with this vital project in an environmentally responsible fashion not necessarily found in foreign mining and processing facilities. In addition, PolyMet will help diversify the economy in the iron ore-dependent Range, creating hundreds of jobs in the process.

More than 300 construction workers will put in 1.5 million hours of labor constructing the $600 facility over two years. At full operations, PolyMet will employ 400 people earning an annual payroll of about $40 million. Spin-off jobs in St. Louis County alone will amount to more than 500 and generate an economic impact of $242 million.

Over 100 years ago, Minnesotans began mining natural ore and then used ingenuity and determination to extend our mining and processing capabilities to include taconite. Responsible, nonferrous mining represents the next chapter in the evolution of the Iron Range; it is time to begin this new era.

Thank you for your consideration of these remarks.

Sincerely,

James L. Oberstar

Member of Congress, Minnesota's 8th District