mining
At events on the Range and in Duluth often the first question I am asked is about mining. Many who attend my events and listen to my response have asked me to write out my statement so they may share it with friends and neighbors. I have given this same response to environmental, labor, and pro-mining groups.
First, I fully support miners and our mining industry—100%. I’m a union member, active on the Executive Committee of my union (UEA-Education MN), former Duluth Central Labor Body delegate, former member on NE-Area Labor Council, and I am proud to have a 100% AFL-CIO voting record. I am endorsed by many labor unions (USW, Iron Range & Duluth Building Trades, Carpenters, IBEW, Plumbers & Steamfitters, UFCW, EdMN, Nurses, MN AFL-CIO) and am working hard to earn the endorsement of ALL unions.
In speaking to all groups, I have learned that NO ONE wishes to pollute our water—not surface water and not groundwater. Everyone agrees on this point. Polluting our water would be devastating to our communities. Also, it would destroy our property values—often the only asset of many families. We also need to honor treaties with Native Americans and respect their sovereignty. Our tribal members need to be involved otherwise proposed mining will continue to be litigated.
I have also learned that people want jobs that pay a decent salary with good benefits throughout the district. They want their children to be educated here, to find jobs here and to raise their family here. Folks want to live close to their grandchildren.
Mining has been a divisive issue in the DFL for a long time. I will work to be a bridge between environmental groups and the mining industry. We’ve needed this bridge for a long time. The chasm will keep growing if we don’t start healing this divide. I have visited PolyMet, Talon and will visit Twin Metals soon. I have also met with environmental groups, tribal members, and groups with concerns about mining. I have listened to all and will continue to listen.
First, we need to bring steel production to the Range—that includes the ability to recycle steel. Now that we are seeing investments in Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) and mini mills, the next step is producing steel. We have an advantage with our multimodal port to ship the steel. We can leverage President Biden’s Defense Production Act & the Inflation Reduction Act to build steel manufacturing on the Range. With high transportation costs of importing steel from other countries, like Ukraine, it is economically feasible to increase domestic steel production. We also need to strengthen taconite mining and that means encouraging U.S. Steel and Cleveland Cliffs to come to the table, so no mines are idled over fights for market share.
Second, we need to invest in technology to make sure all mining can be done safely without polluting our water. To do this we should be investing in the Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI), American Peat Technology (APT), and entrepreneurs to scale up current discoveries and develop new science that can address sulfate and other potential pollutants. NRRI has a product to address sulfate and sulfuric acid but needs funding. Think about how technology has changed over your lifetime. I believe in science and know that with public investments we can scale up and develop technological solutions to the problem of potential pollutants. NRRI and APT need investments to scale up the technology they have developed. I want to work on securing federal funding to solve any possible mining problems so we can safely mine the minerals used in our daily lives.
Third, we need to update our permitting process. We also need to acknowledge that mining minerals and acting on permits to mine depend greatly on the price of minerals. Prices of minerals fluctuate and there is a high degree of uncertainty and risk in mining operations. We should be using the bank in the U.S. Treasury to help finance research and mining operations, given the high level of risk. We should be exploring other financing mechanisms so revenue from mining is not extracted from our state and our country. Why do we rely on multi-national corporations to operate and finance mining of our natural resources? Could we create state/tribal public—private entities or cooperative entities to operate mines? This could help address environmental concerns since residents, tribes and the state would be part owners with a greater interest in protecting our property and water. It may also lead to fewer shutdowns and idling along with greater job security. It would give us the opportunity to reinvest the mining revenue back into our communities rather than line the pockets of corporate shareholders.
Fourth, we should be exploring friendly neighbor agreements between the mining industry, government, tribes and residents. These agreements have been successful in other states, such as Montana. We can build off these agreements and tailor them to meet our needs.
Finally, we all need to be at the table to discuss mining. This issue has divided our communities and families for too long. It’s time to come to meetings with an open mind on learning from all sides of the issue. We need to focus on the facts and the science from third parties with the expertise to educate and with no vested interest in any outcome. I’m confident that we can do this in a civil way. Our goal will be to listen, to understand, to ask questions, to appreciate the complexities and to get to a solution on how, when and where to mine.
Mining contributes less than 2% to our state GDP but it has an outsized impact on the people of northeast Minnesota. For the vitality of our communities, we need to diversify our industries and employment opportunities. I will work to do this by collaborating with our regional economic development experts to leverage federal funds for unique investments.
I am all in on this work. I have a track record of getting things done, being an independent thinker, asking good questions, finding answers, and helping people. There is nothing more I would rather do than be a champion for northern Minnesota and the people who live here.