For the last few years, we have been active volunteer members of the Sierra Club’s North Star Chapter. We strongly support the mission of the Sierra Club, which states in part, “to practice and promote the responsible use of the Earth’s ecosystems and resources.” We value the work the Sierra Club does to address issues of environmental concern in Minnesota.
For the past few years, the Sierra Club has opposed an existential threat to Minnesota’s clean water. This threat is sulfide ore copper-nickel mine operations proposed for northern Minnesota. Our chapter’s focus is on two proposals currently under regulatory review.
The sulfide mine planned by PolyMet near the towns of Hoyt Lakes and Babbitt could cause the potential leaching of heavy metals into the St. Louis River watershed, Lake Superior, and the communities -- like Duluth -- that depend on its water. The second mine, proposed by Twin Metals, would be positioned within a half-mile of the Boundary Waters and could have potentially deadly runoff that would be a direct threat to this strictly protected, pristine wilderness area.
The enormity of the threats from sulfide mines can’t be overstated. The watersheds of the Boundary Waters and Lake Superior hold ten percent of the earth’s freshwater -- and now face potentially irreversible destruction. We agree with the Sierra Club which, along with other environmental groups and Native American organizations, has taken a principled stand opposing the approval of sulfide mining. In this matter, where highly credible research shows that these mines would inevitably have a deleterious impact on the environment, uncompromising opposition is the only responsible position to take.
That acknowledged, we also believe that we have a responsibility to address the economic needs of our fellow Minnesotans living in the Arrowhead region. The more than 100-year tradition of iron mining in the past provided many well-paying jobs. This industry has, over time, undergone a significant reduction in the number of well-paying jobs available for a variety of reasons.
The decline has created a need for new economic growth strategies, which can avoid the “boom-and-bust” cycle that mining has historically undergone and provide economic growth and stability for the people of this region.
Our newly elected governor, Tim Walz, ran on the theme of “One Minnesota,” which, to us, implies that we should be doing everything possible to address both the environmental and economic needs of all Minnesotans. Those living in the Arrowhead region do not have sole claim to decision-making in regard to the resources of this area.
On the other hand, those of us with environmental concerns must also strongly push for a meaningful process to bring everyone to the table to discuss solutions that would effectively address all legitimate perspectives. We cannot be “One Minnesota” if we are unwilling or unable to come together to understand issues and forge solutions that meet the needs and concerns of us all.
We know there is a way to bring good, family- sustaining jobs to the Iron Range without threatening over ten percent of the Earth’s freshwater supply. Minnesota, let’s answer this call.
Deborah and Brian Madson are volunteers with the SierraAction and Communications Teams, along with serving on the Change & Equity Outreach Team. They come from big families, have children, and are deeply concerned about leaving a healthy planet for their children.