Sides being drawn on lawns, billboards in mining debate

Below is a link to another great editorial on the topic from the Ely Echo. This is about jobs, our communities, our schools, and the future livelihood or lack of it in this area. These decisions should be made by the people of Northern Minnesota and not environmental lawyers and activists with personally vested interests.

Now is not the time to sit on our hands and watch the dog and pony show. Let's let the governor know how the people that live here feel about having an opportunity to make Northern Minnesota more successful.

Everyone will benefit from the projects going on in northern Minnesota.

For the full editorial visit the Ely Echo Website:   http://www.elyecho.com/main.asp?SectionID=17&SubSectionID=34&ArticleID=12080&TM=33297.39

PolyMet Update

Phase 1 of PolyMet is $350 million dollars. CEO Joe Scipioni said that's like an investment of almost $1 million dollars a day, for a year.
"That's what our region is missing out on, while we wait for permits," he told the group of chamber members in Virginia. He was speaking at the Laurentian Chamber luncheon on Tuesday.

WDIO.com - PolyMet Update

In Midwest, mining unearths jobs as well as metals

 "Overall international economic growth is driving the demand for these metals and will do so for years to come," said Bob McFarlin, vice president of Twin Metals Minnesota.

And mining means jobs. At $20-$25 an hour, it's money that can support a comfortable lifestyle.

They're the sorts of jobs with which "you can build a family, buy a home, send your kids to college and come and live in Northern Minnesota and have a very good career," McFarlin said.

Read More: CBS Evening News Report:>>   In Midwest, mining unearths jobs as well as metals

Twin Metals Mining Project - Babbitt, Minnesota

A new mining project appears to be heading for the Babbitt and northeast range area of Minnesota. Indications  are that the mine entrance could potentially be located close to Babbitt and that it provides advantages due to being in the St. Louis/Superior watershed. The local area capital investment is estimated to be between 2-3$ Billion with up to 1,000 employees depending on how operations pan out. This will be huge for economic development in Northeast Minnesota and provide needed employment for many.

Located in northern Minnesota, Twin Metals Minnesota’s 32,000 acres of property interests are roughly 10 miles to the east of Babbitt, Minn. and about 15 miles to the southeast of Ely, Minn. Within this area are four NI 43-101 compliant mineral deposits: Nokomis, Maturi, Spruce Road and Birch Lake.

A mining project of this magnitude is brought to life through a multi-year systematic process involving multiple public, private and local, state and federal government stakeholders. After the strategic metals deposits were better defined by Duluth Metals Limited, the company formed a partnership with Antofagasta PLC, and together they founded Twin Metals Minnesota LLC in January 2010.

For More Information And Maps Visit The Following Links:

Twin Metals - Inside The Project

Duluth Complex Mineral Deposits (Polymet Website) 

Twin Metals Babbitt-Ely area mine project takes steps forward

Twin Metals formally announced Thursday that it has instructed its engineering contractor to draw up plans for an 80,000-ton-per-day mine and processing plant -- an operation that would be one of the largest private enterprises in state history.

It would be the largest underground mine in Minnesota history, digging the largest untapped copper deposit in the world, and it’s edging closer to reality in the woods southeast of Ely.
Twin Metals is in the field this spring collecting baseline environmental data across 32,000 acres the company has secured access to under which geologists say is a jackpot discovery of copper.

Full Article Here: http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/226817/publisher_ID/36/

Range Nonferrous mining support heard

 The 2 p.m. news conference saw a slew of supporters from area legislators, mayors, county commissioners and those employed on and employers of the Range. And all spoke in favor of the nonferrous mining opportunities that will boost jobs and the economy statewide

Mesabi Daily News Article:
http://www.virginiamn.com/news/article_092b27a2-6357-11e1-bb51-0019bb2963f4.html

Babbitt Business Center Construction - Feb. 28th, 2012

Photo progress (February 28th, 2012) update of the Zup's grocery building construction. Thanks go out to the City of Babbitt, IRR, Ed Zupancich and staff, and everyone else involved in returning Zup's as a business presence in Babbitt. There is more work to go but it is moving along quickly!

Photos By Bud Herring

 Front View - Zup's Store

 Front View - Older Section Rebuild

Back View - West Side Near The Babbitt Steelworkers Credit Union

Cravaack Passes ‘Buy America' Steel Amendment, Defends Industry From Attacks to Gut 2/3 of American-Based Production

Our current Eighth District representative is working to improve our steel industry.

Cravaack Passes ‘Buy America' Steel Amendment, Defends Industry From Attacks to Gut 2/3 of American-Based Production

Babbitt Business District Reconstruction

There is good news today in Babbitt, Minnesota. Building has commenced on a new Zup's building to replace the one lost in a fire late last September of 2011. Reconstruction has continued in the meantime on a portion of the old building which was able to be saved. This is a big plus for the citizens of this area and things should be looking much different by the time spring rolls around.

Photos by Bud Herring.