Last summer, a coalition of Minnesota conservation groups named Mining Truth started a public dialogue surrounding the proposed PolyMet and Twin Metals sulfide mines near Lake Superior and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
This summer, the campaign enters its next phase, which is initiating a public debate over four very important questions that Governor Dayton, and mining companies should be able to answer before allowing the mines to proceed. This campaign asks people to sign a petition at MiningTruth.org asking Governor Dayton to use these questions when evaluating sulfide mine proposals.
1) Will Minnesota’s water stay safe and clean?
2) Are there safeguards in place for when things go wrong?
3) Will the company leave the site clean and maintenance-free?
4) Will Minnesota’s taxpayers be protected?
Unless Governor Dayton and the mining companies are each able to demonstrate to the people of Minnesota that the answer to these four questions is an unqualified yes, then we believe the mines should not be allowed to move forward.
Mining Truth coalition members will spend the summer meeting with Minnesotans around the state and encouraging them to sign an online petition that will urge Governor Dayton to take these questions into account when it comes to deciding on the mining proposals. Additionally, a substantial paid media campaign will take place to ensure that Minnesotans everywhere understand the proposals, what is at risk, and are ready to insist on straight answers from our state’s leaders.
“Minnesotans from all parts of the state need to understand what is at stake with these sulfide mines,” Said Paul Austin, Executive Director of Conservation Minnesota. “When they fully understand the risks we all face, we believe they will join with us in demanding that these four questions are resolved before the mines progress.”
Mining Truth is a combined effort of Conservation Minnesota, the Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness and the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy. The goal of the coalition is to provide a resource for Minnesotans to get the facts about sulfide mining and its long-lasting impacts.