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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Nolan says one thing, does another

Posted 7/23/14

In last week’s Timberjay, Congressman Rick Nolan tells us that he is in favor of mining, “as long as it’s done right…with good, strong strict rules.” And unlike some other Range …

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Nolan says one thing, does another

Posted

In last week’s Timberjay, Congressman Rick Nolan tells us that he is in favor of mining, “as long as it’s done right…with good, strong strict rules.” And unlike some other Range politicians, he reassured that he is not in favor of weaker environmental laws.

If only it were so.

Rep. Nolan apparently forgot, or thinks we forgot, about his vote less than a year ago in favor of HR761, the “National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act,” which is a fancy name for speeding up the permitting of new mines by taking environmental review, and citizen participation in that review, down a few notches. The bill allows federal agencies to exempt mining projects from review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). NEPA ensures that everyday citizens can take part in the development and oversight of projects that affect our social, economic, and environmental health. The bill also restricts the ability of individuals and communities to bring suit when government agencies fail to follow the laws intended to protect the environment.

How extreme is this bill? The highly partisan vote in the House of Representatives tells the story. Only 15 Democrats of the 193 that voted were in favor of the bill, while all 291 Republicans that voted were in favor of it. Fifty-six of 58 cosponsors were Republicans, and included environmental luminaries like Michele Bachmann.

Regardless of where you sit on mining issues, everyone should be able to agree that we want a Congressman we can trust. And you can’t do that when they say one thing and do the opposite, as Rep. Nolan appears to be doing on mining issues. We deserve better.

Steve Wilson

Tower, Minn.