Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Reader's View: Take time needed to ensure safe mining - Duluth News Tribune

It wasn’t surprising to read negative reactions to the recent PolyMet court ruling from people who have money as their chief interest (“PolyMet will appeal permit reversal,” Jan. 17).

Those of us who have the health of the environment as our primary concern were extremely gratified with the ruling.

I am tired of the complaint that all this “time” spent in the permitting process is costing the company money. One of the reasons the process has taken so long is because PolyMet and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources haven’t always done things properly. The initial EIS or Environmental Impact Statement, was deeply flawed; in fact, it received a failing grade from the Environmental Protection Agency. The DNR then tried to cut corners by not holding required hearings. Do the mining proponents think they are above the law?

Assurances are offered that the copper-nickel mines will operate without damaging the environment. Yet efforts have been made to sidestep or decrease regulations.

I believe it is much better to stop a disaster before it happens than to try and undo the damage later. There have been too many mining accidents to pretend heavy-metal mining isn’t a dangerous venture. We need to invest all the time needed to ensure heavy-metal mining won’t destroy our northern environment. If that can’t be done, the mining should be rejected permanently.

Walt Prentice

Duluth

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Reader's View: Take time needed to ensure safe mining - Duluth News Tribune
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