News

Mesabi Daily News
February 27, 2010

A legislative committee has scheduled three hearings on mining - most specifically proposed copper/nickel/precious metals mining on the eastern Iron Range - in Northeastern Minnesota.

And where are the hearings to be held? In St. Paul, of course. How convenient for well-funded environmental groups that reside for the most part in the Twin Cities while working with gusto to try to stop projects; try to stop jobs; try to do damage to communities of the Iron Range.

Similar hearings were held in late 2008, prior to the 2009 session. So now, as the PolyMet project nears a finish line for actual construction of the venture, which will create 400 permanent jobs, at least 500 spin-off jobs, 1.5 million hours of construction work and millions and millions and millions of payroll dollars for employees and millions and millions and millions more tax dollars that will flow to St. Paul, opponents have convinced some lawmakers that a redo of those past hearings is needed.

And as everyone must jump through legislative hoops once again, the environmental group opponents can hop in their vehicles for a short commute to the State Capitol. Meanwhile, those of us on the Iron Range who have the biggest stake in this issue, must rent buses or fill up the gas tanks of private cars and trucks for a 400-mile round trip to St. Paul at least once and perhaps twice for hearings that will occur on two different days.

We say bring at least one of those hearings up to the Range; up to the area where the project should already be producing minerals and paychecks should already be cashed.

Make at least one of these hearings about what should be the overriding issue - jobs.

Oh, we always hear from lawmakers in St. Paul and Washington that jobs is the No. 1 priority. OK, then back it up with a trip up north. Let's have a caravan of legislators and their staff members making the journey to the Range, so they can see first hand what this issue is really all about.

Let them not only hold the hearing at the PolyMet site - we say outside no matter the weather - but also take time to visit the Iron Range Food Shelf and assess just how great is the need for jobs in the area. Then go to the offices of the building trades and talk to some card-carrying union members about the construction market. Then visit some schools and get information of just how great has been the enrollment declines of the past decade.

Hold at least one of these hearings out amongst the people of the Iron Range. If these hearings are so important to you, then leave your plush surroundings at the State Capitol and get with the people of the state of the Iron Range to do this work. And maybe you bring some Twin Cities media with you so they can really assess first-hand the importance of this project and the overwhelming support it has of Iron Range people.

These hearings you are set to hold aren't about the Twin Cities or the halls of state government in St. Paul. They're about the Iron Range of Northeastern Minnesota and the people who live here.

So come on up. It's about time you were inconvenienced just a little bit. Lord knows the people of the Iron Range and all of rural Minnesota are inconvenienced enough by many of your actions.