Eric - Sure hope they can strike a happy medium for the environmentalists so Minnesota's economy can get a boost.

Marlene -- Minnesota's Iron Range has been a core of economic development for the northern half of the state since the early 1900s.  When iron ore deposits began to play out in the 1950s and 1960s, the industry shifted to taconite processing in order to keep the mines economically feasible.

Now, these new discoveries and deposits could competely turn things around for the region.  I'm sure everyone is anxious to realize the economic benefits.  But strip mining is invasive and does considerable damage to the landscape.  Nickel and cobalt mining involves a lot of toxic components and by-products.  I hope there's a way to mitigate the problems so this can go forward.

The econom  y vs. the environment - How will this play out?  It does seem like the environmentalists are more successful at protecting the birds than others are in protecting jobs.  Wouldn't it be nice if we could figure out a way to do both?

Margaret, like many areas where the mining industry is prevalent, Minnesota's Iron Range is pretty economically disadvantaged.  It's a delicate balancing act between preserving lakes or rivers and outright economic survival.  Northern Minnesota needs the jobs.  I have a feeling that will be a priority. 

Eric, That is interesting but it always turns into an issue between the economy and the environment.

Great photo, Eric. Will be interesting to hear how things develop between the government/economy and the environment. So often the environment loses the battle.

Jeff

Jeff & Roberta -- Minnesota is still pretty proactive when it comes to environmental issues.  Several decades ago, Federal Judge Miles Lord took on Reserve Mining Company for dumping taconite tailings in Lake Superior.  I don't see the State rolling over for the mining companies just to give the economy a boost. 

I hope they do not destroy the beauty! That is great, is it your back yard???

Merry Christmas my friend!

Hopefully new technology will be shown to be "gentle" on the beautiful landscape and keep the industrial steamroller rolling!  (yeah right!) 

Eric, I have been looking at Polymet's plans to encapsule all materials to ensure a safer way of mining. They see the mine running for twenty years or so, then returning it to nature. Polymet's biggest hurdle seems to be the Sierra Club..most of the people I have talked to are very hopeful for the Polymet project to continue. Lets hope that new technologies in mining will provide for a way to realize the boom in metals here in Minnesota for the good or her residents.

What a beautiful sight / site.  I hope they do not ruin it!

Charles -- Sadly, the photo is not my back yard view.  I'm pretty much of a "city kid".  I live in the Minneapolis suburbs.  But I love northern Minnesota and I have relatives who live close to the Iron Range.

Eleanor, supposedly PolyMet and others are planning to use low-impact technologies to bring up the ore.  And everything will be proceeding under the watchful eyes of the State of Minnesota, the Army Corps of Engineers and the DNR, so I'm hopeful it will succeed.

James, thank you for visiting and making comment!  I hope there's a way for the project to succeed and bring benefits to the area.

Have you considered joining Active Rain?  Email me at Eric@WayzataLakesRealty and I'll be glad to fill you in on the benefits and details.

Dawn, there is some gorgeous scenery in parts of Minnesota's Iron Range.

You know, it doesn't have to be that way.  We need a NATIONAL COMMITMENT to the environment...Yes, it would mean the "T" word (taxes) but a real commitment to the environment would also mean the "J" word - JOBS. I was a scientist (biomedical - not environmental) but there was no commitment on the part of academia or the NIH, NSF or the private sector to let us work in a world where we could enjoy being middle class.  Most of us were working poor with high degrees and a lot of smarts that were wasted because we had to earn a living.  Put talent like that to work on the environment - global warming and renewable energy and there would be more young people entering the field and there would be JOBS. I find the argument that it has to be JOBS or ENVIRONMENT specious - it can be JOBS in mining  and JOBS IN ENVIRONMENT! Trouble is - the companies don't want to pay and the Bush administration....nuff said!

Ruthmarie -- It's not going to happen with the present Washington crowd in power.  In the past eight years, these folks have worked hard to take the teeth out of major Federal environmental legislation.  So it's largely up to individual states to police their own regulations.

You do see differences, state-by-state, in the enactment and enforcement of environmental laws.  Mining has generally always been a hazardous and dirty business.  At least in Minnesota, the state seems to bring more pressure on these companies to get it right in the first place.  You don't see a lot of Superfund sites on the Iron Range and companies have been forced to deal with hazards. 

I agree that you will never see that with the current D.C. crowd...its simply that they cloud the issue.  its not a choice between jobs vs. no jobs....its a choice about how responsible and how much profit are needed.  Cleaning UP can create many, many jobs..that's the point.  The commitment to do it RIGHT would help the next generation with jobs and environment.

Ruthmarie, conservatives have been quietly blocking environmental issues since Reagan appointed James Watt back in the 1980s (with the intent of turning the Department of the Interior into a paper tiger).  And politicians who receive tons of lobbying money from polluters aren't in any hurry to endorse environmental legislation.