We are a mining people. The residents of the Iron Range have been mining for more than a century and we have made a big impact on the entire country. Without the Iron we have, the American Industrial Revolution could not have been as successful as it was. Therefore, you could say that we are the foundation of modern America.

Most likely, you or someone in your family has been involved in a mine or a mining project. There were most likely some challenges that went along with that process also, whether it was before the mine was open, or after. PolyMet is now having some challenges for starting a mine.

The proposed mine would be an open pit that would extract copper, nickel, cobalt, palladium, platinum, and gold. Once operational, around 32,000 tons of material would be mined a day. Key portions of the LTV Steel Mining Co. taconite plant, near Hoyt Lakes, would be reused for crushing and processing. The capital cost is $601.9 million. It would create about 900 jobs, 400 of which are permanent. Why then, isn’t this mine open?

Those opposed to the mine have concerns about the environment and point to other sulfide mining projects in the country that created problems with pollution. They fear that the groundwater will become contaminated. Supporters argue that the minerals PolyMet will be mining have a lower sulfide level than in other areas where nonferrous mining has been done. The also bring up the stringent Minnesota environmental guidelines. Furthermore, they remind those against the mine of the need of the nonferrous metals to incite the nation’s “Green” economic strategies.

All elected officials with any political stake in the proposed mine support it without a doubt; all except Senator Franken, whose backing is conditional. Senator Klobuchar was asked if she supported the PolyMet project without conditions. Her answer was a simple “Yes.”

No matter what the argument, PolyMet will eventually open the mine because we need to have it. In fact, the permitting for Polymets proposed mine on the Iron Range will most likely happen here in the near future and when it does, the door will be for other mining ventures like Franconia Minerals Mining near Babbitt, Minnesota. The doors of mining opportunities are about to open up on the Iron Range and when they do it will mean thousands of jobs in a tough economy.

There will always be obstacles facing the Iron Range in the mining industry. We need to be good stewards of our environment and all it has to offer us and those who visit our great North Woods, we also need to work to solve the issue of growing jobs on the Iron Range. We live and die in mining country and we should always be looking to expand our job market. Polymet, Franconi Minerials, Twin Metals and others we welcome you and hope to see you soon.